81st Venice Film Festival: Historic premiere for a Luxembourg co-production with "Youth (Homecoming)" in the Official Competition

The documentary Youth (Homecoming) by Chinese director Wang Bing, co-produced by Les Films Fauves (Gilles Chanial) has been included in the official selection in competition at the forthcoming Venice International Film Festivalto be held from 28 August to 7 September. This selection marks a historic first for Luxembourg, as it is the first time that a documentary trilogy has been selected in official competition at three prestigious international festivals (Cannes, Locarno, Venice), confirming the importance and impact of this work on the world cinema panorama.

The documentary Youth by Wang Bing is a remarkable work in three parts, each exploring in depth the lives of young Chinese workers. This ambitious project sheds light on the often difficult and under-documented realities of young workers in contemporary China.

The first part, entitled Youth (Spring), had been selected in 2023 in official competition at the Cannes Festival. The second part, entitled Youth (Hard Times)will be in official competition at the Locarno Festival in August.

The selection for this third part, entitled Youth (Homecoming)at the Venice Film Festival, marks a high point for this project, which has already received international recognition for its depth and humanity.

Information on the 3 parts of this trilogy

Wang Bing's work, and in particular this three-part documentary, is a major contribution to contemporary documentary cinema, offering a powerful and necessary voice from the margins of society.

1. First part: Youth (Spring)

This segment focuses on the daily lives of young workers in the garment factories of the industrial city of Zhili, China. Through intimate and poignant portraits, Wang Bing captures the hopes, dreams and struggles of these often forgotten young people.

2. Second part: Youth (Hard Times)

This segment continues to explore the challenges faced by these young workers, delving deeper into the social and economic dynamics that govern their lives. Wang Bing uses his camera to offer an uncompromising look at the working conditions and personal sacrifices these young people must make in order to survive and, they hope, prosper.

3. Third part: Youth (Homecoming)

The third part will be presented at the Venice Film Festival. This final chapter concludes the trilogy by providing a broader reflection on the impact of these living and working conditions on the future of these young people. By reporting on their experiences, Wang Bing highlights the long-term consequences of this lifestyle on their physical and mental health, as well as on their future prospects.