Plot: What’s it about?
We often see on the news about China’s rise as a powerful importer of goods to the United States, not to mention companies moving their operations there for cheaper labor. This obviously has a potent impact on both nations, but what does the shift mean both these two countries? In The China Question, we’re taken inside both China and United States to see the impact from a personal level. When a company closes offices in America and moves them to China, we see the changes left behind on one side and those that unfurl in the other. Does that gain of employment truly greatly benefit the people of China who gain jobs, or are the corporations the ones who reap the rewards? In the United States, we can see the social and economic fallout when such a closure happens, but now we are also able to see what happens on the other end. The China Question makes us ponder what lies ahead for Americans with China rising as a superpower.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from The China Question, given the trend of over the top, biased “documentaries” that Michael Moore helped pioneer. But this is not that kind of film, instead The China Question explores a sensitive topic and treats both sides with great respect. The issue is examined on many levels, from a government perspective to the “man on the street” outlook, so we’re shown many different takes. This means people of all kinds on both fronts are interviewed, giving us a wide and eye opening look into how people of all walks of life are impacted. While I don’t think The China Question tries to solve the issue, it does inform and that is at heart what a documentary should do. Even those with an interest in the subject will find new information and perspective as well, which is terrific. In the end, it was a pleasure to watch a documentary that lived up the genre, content to provide information and let the viewers draw their own conclusions.
Video: How does it look?
The China Question is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen. This looks good given the source, a clean visual record with minimal issues present. The image has a natural look, which is expected since this is a documentary, after all. The colors look bright and contrast is consistent, so no concerns there. All in all, a rock solid visual treatment.
Audio: How does it sound?
Not a lot to discuss here, as this is a documentary, so most of the content is interviews. But the dialogue is clear and volume is never a problem, so that is crucial to the presentation. The other elements are sparse, but when needed, the soundtrack comes through on all fronts. This isn’t going to dazzle your ears, but it gets the job done.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Over an hour of deleted and extended scenes are here, some of which have some good information. So if you enjoyed the feature, don’t miss these added segments.
