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Last Days Before the Flood

Chen Xinzhong

Release year: 2007

Run time: 8 mins

Film type: Experimental Documentary

Synopsis

The Three Gorges Dam project, initiated in the late 20th century, resulted in the submergence of several ancient cities with a history spanning thousands of years. Kaixian County, which falls under the jurisdiction of Chongqing Municipality, was the last millennium-old county to be inundated. Through the utilization of experimental film techniques, the documentary captures the aftermath following the evacuation of Kaixian County's residents. It highlights the fleeting period of intersection between humanity, the city, nature, and history, just before the arrival of the impending flood.

 

Director biography

Xinzhong Chen, also known as Zhong Chen in English, was born in Chengdu, Sichuan, China in the 1970s. He graduated from the Department of Engineering Mechanics at Tsinghua University in China, earning a Bachelor's degree in Engineering. In the 1990s, fueled by his passion for photography and videography, he made a career change and joined Chengdu TV station. In 1998, he was awarded a full assistantship from Temple University's film department in the United States, which enabled him to pursue comprehensive film education. In 2003, he earned an MFA degree in film production. Zhong Chen's works have been selected for more than 100 international film festivals and have garnered numerous awards. He has been invited to deliver lectures at various esteemed universities in the United States, including Northwestern University, Stanford University, University of Paris VII in France, Lund University in Sweden, and several universities in China. Furthermore, he has served as a guiding lecturer at the Odense International Short Film Festival's master class in Denmark. Currently, he resides in Chengdu, China, and works as a freelancer.