5 Stars!

3 out of 4!

a nostalgic meditation on the changing face of Communist China.

China past meets China present

one of the essential films of the last decade and that will reward multiple, fascinated viewings.

24 City is "Pick of the Week"

24 City captures potent symbolic moments that demonstrate the insecurity and precarious individualism of the new China

Review

5 Stars! "youthful idealism never dies pretty."

"NNNN"

"Jia makes a poignant statement about the dignity of work"

"24 City, from China's most celebrated mid-career director, Jia Zhang-ke (The World) is a challenging mixture of documentary and drama that explores the community around a former armaments factory now turned into a housing complex. The film covers the 50 years in China that were redacted in the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, directed by fellow filmmaker Zhang Yimou."

"Jia Zhangke is China’s most elegantly contentious filmmaker, and 24 City is perhaps his subtlest provocation yet."