Documentary film 'The Yangtze River' to premiere

The Yangtze River, a documentary film by Japanese director Takeuchi Ryo, is set to premiere on May 24 in China. Featuring the beautiful landscape along one of the "mother rivers" of China and stories of residents along the river, the movie focuses on the tremendous changes that have taken place in the country over the past 10 years.

The roadshows for the film starting from Saturday will reach cities across China. With the Yangtze River as a clue, the film starts from the prosperous city of Shanghai, heading all the way up the river across 6,300 kilometers of lucid waters and lush mountains. It tells the stories of the people living along the river, revealing a strong sense of life and true feelings.

From the rolling river water along the Bund of Shanghai, heading to the west, the director's lens takes us through the cities of Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing, reaching the Tuotuo River, one of the sources of the Yangtze River, in Northwest China's Qinghai Province.

As a mirror, the Yangtze River reflects the rapid growth of China's economy and the tremendous changes it has undergone.

Ryo has been productive in shooting high-quality documentaries that showcase the rapid development of Chinese society and the country's magnificent mountains and rivers. His works have won the heart of Chinese audiences.

In 2021, Ryo was listed as one of the "100 Japanese respected by the world" by Newsweek. He was also nominated for the 12th China Academy Awards of Documentary Film (CAADF).

Ten years ago, Ryo worked on another documentary film on the Yangtze River. However, he always regretted not being able to catch "the first drop of water from the source of the Yangtze River." Now, 10 years later, he has fulfilled this dream with The Yangtze River.

When The Yangtze River was released in Japan, it hit No.1 at the box office. Many Japanese audiences were impressed by its perspective of China.

"From a unique perspective and with superb shooting skills, the documentary The Yangtze River illustrated the tremendous changes along the river over the past decade, providing an epitome of China's economic and social development in the new era," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said during a routine press conference.

"The sincerity and goodness channeled by the director and leading figures through the documentary transcend time, distance, language and nationality, striking a chord among audiences from various backgrounds," Lin added.