Watch Behemoth

Behemoth is a 2015 documentary film that was directed by Zhao Liang. The film employs a unique approach to visually documenting the ecological devastation that has befallen China as a result of its rapidly growing industrialization. It tells the story of the people who have been affected by pollution and disease, as well as the impact on the country's environment.

The film is set in Inner Mongolia, one of the country's industrial powerhouses, which is known for its coal mines, steel factories, and other heavy industries. The filmmakers explore the social and environmental impact of these industries on the local population, as well as the wider region.

The film is divided into several sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the ecological devastation that is occurring in Inner Mongolia. The first section of the film, for example, takes us inside the coal mines, where we see miners working in incredibly hazardous conditions. The film shows the miners, who are often migrant workers, struggling to cope with the dust and fumes that permeate the mines, and the toll that the work takes on their health.

We are then taken to the factories, where we see the industrial processes that are causing the pollution that is destroying the environment. We see smokestacks belching out black smoke, rivers running black with chemicals and waste, and the enormous quantities of coal that are consumed each day.

The film also examines the impact of pollution on the health of the local population, with interviews with people who have been diagnosed with cancer and other illnesses as a result of exposure to pollutants. We hear about the struggles of families to deal with the consequences of pollution, from caring for a sick family member to fighting for compensation from the companies responsible for the pollution.

The filmmakers also examine the impact of industrialization on traditional ways of life in the region, with scenes of nomadic herders forced to move their animals to new pastures in order to avoid the pollution. We are shown the stark contrast between the beauty of the region's natural environment and the devastation caused by industrialization.

One of the most striking features of Behemoth is its use of imagery. The film employs a mix of documentary footage, poetry, music, and symbolic imagery to create a powerful and deeply affecting picture of the impact of industrialization on China's environment and people. The use of slow-motion, black and white imagery creates an almost surreal quality to the film, which underscores the urgency of the situation.

Overall, Behemoth is a powerful and deeply affecting film, which confronts the viewer with the harsh reality of industrialization, pollution and ecological destruction. The film is a searing indictment of the race for economic growth that is taking place in China, and the toll it is taking on the country's people and environment. For anyone interested in the consequences of rapid economic growth on a developing country, this film is essential viewing.