For a number years, the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has had its own DVD label, Tiger Releases, with exceptional festival titles from all over the world. All of the titles have revently been shown at the IFFR and were sponsored by the festival's own fund, the Hubert Bals Fund. This fund, named after founder and supports them with the realization of their projects. Since the fund was established in 1988, some 600 projects from Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America have received funding.

This box contains the impressive nine-hour documentary "Tie Xi Qu: West Of The Tracks" by Wang Bing (China, 2003). The fund has always closely followed developments in China. By now celebrated directors such as Jia Zhangke and Lou Ye were supported by the fund early on in their careers. The festival is proud to present this epic documentary, which has only been shown a few times in the Netherlands.

In three parts, "Rust", "Remnants" and "Rails", Chinese director Wang Bing charts the economic demise of one of the most densely populated industrial areas in the northeast of China. The film is one long journey along the railway that cuts across the area. It becomes clear that this area, once the heart of the planned economy, with a labour-intensive industry of blast furnaces and steelworks, has not been modernized to prepare it for the future. Stuck in between the Communist heritage and the more capitalist future, economic reforms and bankruptcies lead to demolition and vacancies, leaving behind hordes of desolate workers.

Wang Bing observes and listens to the innumerous stories of local residents. He takes on jobs to survive and live among the people, and he sometimes follows his protagonists and the developments they are confronted with over longer periods of time. This makes "Tie Xi Qu" into a chronicle of epix proportions. During his two-year journey the at the time still relatively inexperienced director shows the drama in everyday life with sincerity, humanity, depth and engagement by means of calm camera work, in which the developments are captured in beautiful tableaus.

"Tie Xi Qu" won many awards at documentary festivals and was partly funded by the IFFR's Hubert Bals Fund.

Bonusmaterial:
Interviews;