Wang Bing’s ‘Youth (Hard Times)’ Review: A Labor Documentary Sequel That Disorients With Intent

As Wang Bing’s textile documentaries continue to uncover, “Youth (Hard Times)”—the second installment in his planned trilogy—provides fresh perspectives on the passage of time.

This nearly four-hour film delves into the lives of young workers in Zhili, a district of Huzhou City, exploring their growing disillusionment with precision and subtlety. Unlike its predecessor, “Youth (Spring),” which set the stage for Wang’s exploration, this new entry builds on that foundation with a more focused narrative.

Wang’s fascination with garment labor, highlighted in his 2016 film “Bitter Money” and the museum installation “15 Hours,” extends into this trilogy. “Youth (Spring),” which premiered at Cannes, is stylistically similar to “15 Hours,” emphasizing the lengthy nature of time.

“Youth (Hard Times),” which debuted at Locarno, adopts a more intentional and pointed approach. Both this film and Wang’s forthcoming third installment, “Youth (Homecoming),” were shot between 2014 and 2019, using a vast amount of footage captured in worker dormitories along Happiness Road.

Though initially familiar with its medium shots of workers at sewing machines, the sequel’s visual approach introduces new elements. Factories in this film appear messier, indicating the passage of time and worsening conditions. The disorienting play of light and shadow blurs day and night, reflecting the monotonous and unrelenting nature of the workers’ tasks.

Wang’s portrayal of the workers remains detached yet evocative, highlighting symbolic ironies like laboring over winter coats in summer. The film also introduces older workers, adding layers to the narrative. Their interactions, including a woman bringing her young daughter or mother to work, deepen the story’s emotional impact.

As tensions rise over pay disputes, the sewing machines fall silent for the first time in the trilogy. This eerie silence underscores the normalization of their toil under capitalist conditions, challenging the workers’ identities and sense of self.

“Youth (Hard Times)” examines this struggle, focusing on internal conflicts and collective bargaining, portraying the harsh realities faced by China’s migrant youth as they seek to escape their confining and exploitative conditions.