The Chinese Mayor

— An up-close look at China, focusing on Hao Zhou, mayor of Datong, and his project to demolish up to 200,000 homes and relocate their residents so he can reconstruct the city’s ancient wall and transform the city from a polluted mining town to a culturally historic one that appeals to tourists. The filmmaker was given mostly unfettered access to the mayor and the people, so the portrait that evolves appears to be fairly realistic, offering not just a look at this one project but also a glimpse into the dysfunction of the Chinese Communist Party. The film unfolds in observational style, making it an interesting and worthwhile documentary to see.

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[2015. 82 min. Directed by Bryan Carberry and J. Clay Tweel.]
http:// http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/chinese-mayor-datong-sundance-review-770074/