​​​​University City Savages Movie Review
Written by James MudgeJune
 

“University City Savages” is an intense film, tackling the issue head on, the fate of the villagers making for harrowing viewing. The way in which they are gradually worn down, first with their homes being destroyed, and then their shanty huts being knocked down by the police (who even take away things like their cooking equipment), is at times hopelessly, unbelievably harsh, and it’s impossible not to feel sympathy for them. The conditions they are reduced to, through no fault of their own, are shocking, as is their confusion at having been betrayed by the government and at finding all their efforts to resist and to seek justice thwarted at every turn. Things get increasingly dramatic as the squatters run out of options and places to stay, sleeping outside the university, and with one making a protest by climbing a tower and threatening to throw himself off.

 

The film is also very interesting in the way it examines the interactions and relationship between the villagers and the students who attend and live in the University City. As the film shows, while there is a desire on the part of some students to know more about the area which they now inhabit, most are only vaguely aware at best of what has been going on, and even those who have concerns have been told by professors that nothing can be done. Through this, the film effectively reflects the apathy of the general public towards such cases, which are becoming more and more frequent as the exponential growth of higher education in China leads to the need for more and more such mega-campuses – some of which end up being turned into real estate projects.

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As a documentary, the film is very well made, piecing together its story through a variety of different media. This proves an effective approach, with Wang Bang utilising footage (some of which was shot during clashes with police), interviews and photographs, at times held up by villagers as they relate their stories. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the film is one sided, with no comment or comeback from the government or police, being told entirely from the perspective of ‘The Savages’ – however, given the situation, this is by no means a fault, and though undoubtedly passionate, the film still manages to come across as balanced and objective.

“University City Savages” certainly does a great job of exploring its subject as a case study of the human cost of unchecked development and modernisation in China today. A courageous and engaging film, it shows the power of the documentary form as protest and will hopefully serve to raise awareness of such a far reaching issue.​

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University City Savages Movie Review
Written by Matthew Rowland
 

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My thoughts on the way home were that I liked your film because it deals in the currency of human spirit and nature. I'm not that interested in the politics and academic worthiness or the desire for balanced arguments. My heart sinks when people talk of better compensation deals and, that of course, the state needs more good universities. Apart from anything else, the academics and other hand wringing middle classes, have bought the idea that "Education" is good for us  and that everyone has their price.

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I am moved by people standing their ground against the "core" fear that you alluded to and which culture instills. This fear is not just a manifestation of communist style regimes, but the inculcated fear of our global cultural paradigm. So my main interest in stories such as this, is the survival of nature and humans as part of nature, in the face of their fellow man who has been terrorised into behaving as a machine. those people shone out to me, not as victims, but for their courage and tenacity to rise above the fear of totalitarianism, and be seen.you are a force of nature and are able to express that in your work in brave and touching ways.
 

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