This film is part of Free
A Stilted City. Chungking. China
Life among the limpet-like buildings clinging to the steep banks of the Yangtze in southwest China.
Travelogue 1930 1 mins Silent
Overview
In a film of many contrasts, the precarious dwellings which jut out of the mountainside in this vertical city seem somehow futuristic and ancient at the same time. Those who make a hard living on these steep steps also seem a world away from the Western navy men who are carried on their backs. The jokey intertitles offer a further disparity in making the scenes entertainment for cinema audiences.
Chongqing (then Chungking) is today almost unrecognisable from the ancient city seen in this film, though the mighty Yangtze river remains an unchanging feature of life in one of China's major municipalities.
Subjects
Related
Somewhere in China
Mongolia Mongolia
Amateur film 1935 42 mins Silent
Mongolian men show off their prowess in wrestling, archery and horse racing, known as the “three manly games”.
Homework and Street Scenes in China Homework and Street Scenes in China
Travelogue 1908 7 mins
Intimate vignettes of crafters, beggars and labourers in the workshops, on the streets and eating in the outdoor kitchens of imperial China.
Among the Tribes in South-West China Among the Tribes in South-West China
Documentary 1948 37 mins Silent
This alluring travelogue follows a missionary on his colourful journey into the ethnically diverse mountains of Yunnan, south west China.
Rice Cultivation in the Si-kiang Delta, South China Rice Cultivation in the Si-kiang Delta, South China
Documentary 1937 2 mins Silent
An exceptionally detailed look at the process of rice cultivation, from planting to harvesting to pounding, in the Xi Jiang Delta, Guangdong Province.
An Oriental Venice An Oriental Venice
Travelogue 1925 2 mins Silent Location: Hangzhou
Enjoy a cruise along the ancient canals of Zhejiang Province in eastern China with this gorgeous stencil-coloured travelogue
Naval Life in China Naval Life in China
Travelogue 1908 4 mins Silent
The waterways of Imperial China are bursting with life in this French travelogue made in the final years of the Qing Dynasty.
Chongqing
China (1942) China (1942)
Documentary 1942 0 mins Location: Chongqing
Fascinating anti-Japanese, pro-Chinese wartime propaganda film.
New
Khwaaish Khwaaish
Drama 2018 7 mins
Khwaaish or 'Desire' is an Indian short film that glimpses into the life of one man’s longing to find a same-sex companion, in a city that refuses to accept LGBTQIA+ people.
Chariot Riders Chariot Riders
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2015 5 mins
Beautifully animated short film about a boy's feelings of love for another boy – his best friend.
Sisak Sisak
Romance 2017 15 mins
A first-of-its-kind silent LGBTQ short film set in India, Sisak makes waves before the visuals of this film hit the shore.
Little Elephant Little Elephant
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2015 5 mins
A British Indian woman and her father discuss their opposing views on family and sexuality in this beautifully moving, visually striking 2D animated short film.
Wajood Wajood
Romance 2017 12 mins
A young trans woman embarks on a poignant quest for love after falling for a rickshaw driver.
U For Usha U For Usha
Drama 2019 22 mins
U Ushacha is a subtle portrayal of sexual awakening, and how naïve attraction can empower a woman to take control of her life.