Well, I am so glad to read your most thoughtful blogs! Some of you had incredible ideas to share. I, too, was left rather speechless from this film. Both this film and Baraka allow one to develop their own ideas and opinions by simply showcasing powerful imagery. China is a communist country, and there are certain ideals that they have that are perhaps different from our own world view. For example, the idea that one is doing what one can for the benefit of the country is something that I don't know that Americans have. The current status of China is one that sees itself on the frontier of "progress." As a result, the changes that have occurred in the last 50 years are seen completely as beneficial to the whole.
Remember that all of the manmade destruction that has occurred to China is as much a reflection of the needs and demands of the western world (i.e. the United States). We are a throw away society. All of the parts that are being made in those factories out of the raw materials that have had to be mined throughout the world are being made because somebody wants them. (Note, I did not say "need.") While there are no judgments being made throughout this film, I think it is obvious that there is definitely a pervasive emotion that cannot be ignored. There is an internal battle that each of us must take on between our feelings of helplessness and our desire to maintain the day to day comforts that we seem to take for granted.
So, what can we do? This is the question that will be posed especially to your generation as we look at the next 50 years. How can all the changes that have occurred be undone? Can they?