“Shanghai: Life in a Big City” offers a glimpse into the quality and rhythm of everyday life in China’s most populous metropolis. Beneath a stunning skyline of gleaming glass skyscrapers and vibrant neon lights, 24 million residents struggle to feed their families, make a living and thrive in an increasingly competitive environment.
The film is filled with a series of brief but vivid portraits of characters. A bike supplier is struggling to keep up with the booming online sales the city generates every day. A young rising star rehearses in a theater originally built in the 1930s, hoping to one day achieve international fame. A family of three visits a private daycare while discussing the burden of rapidly increasing living costs.
Property prices have risen by a third over the past year. It’s the result of living in such a stylish, modern mecca of industry and leisure. Many people who work in Shanghai can’t actually afford to settle there.
Despite these challenges, the city’s charm and promise never ceases to inspire. Shanghainese are big dreamers with a deep sense of optimism and a work ethic. The government encourages their entrepreneurship, especially in new technologies. Startups are getting huge support in developing the tools of the future. The film introduces such an entrepreneur, a young man who returns to the city after studying in the West for many years. He develops and tests fundamental safety technologies for self-driving cars. Its history highlights the many qualities that make Shanghai a desirable tourist destination from around the world, and why the city remains at the forefront of innovation.
Viewers can also get a feel for how the city works in terms of infrastructure, traffic, and scheduling of imports and exports. Plus, the film features a series of beautiful shots that evoke the city’s nightlife, entertainment, and other cultural attractions.
“Shanghai: Life in a Great City” presents an exciting mosaic of one of the world’s most exciting cities.
