Commodity City

For her latest film, Chinese-American director Jessica Kingdon takes us on a tour of China’s Yiwu Market-the largest wholesale consumer goods mall in the world. This award-winning work, which screened at Slamdance Film Festival, focuses on the daily lives of market vendors and their role in facilitating the flow of the world’s consumer goods and tchotchkes-from phone cases to plastic flowers.
Talking about her transfixing and thought-provoking work, Kingdon explains: “The markets have their own routines and rhythms, where the space-sprawling across five miles-operates according to the fluctuating demands of the global economy.”
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[@jinruizhang]

there is is just a certain peace and tranquility in this mundaness. As a person of Chinese origin, this brings me back to a place that now only resides in my memories. Northern Europe's coldness, lacking of feeling of community and emotional depth in public areas really makes me crave being in a place like this.

[@Capgungoesbang]

Every store is so specific to the point that I wouldn't even know that there should be a store solely dedicated to some of these products.

[@cristinavelazquez2554]

The ending is great, when the kid drops the paper bill. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@MagisterialVoyager]

This was a very interesting insight on how, in another place, people's lives can be radically different from what we have around us. I can't say I understand fully why there was such large store and how those people spend their days by mostly just sitting, but this piece does open my eyes about different cultures in the world.

[@all.day.day-dreamer]

Is there more of this? I could watch this for 2 hours easy! Thank you for sharing. I am so interested in other people and cultures that are not tainted by the news or special interest groups. Everyone all over the world are beautiful. It' sad that the news and governments in ones own country can make us hate other people and their countries so much.

[@FernandoNBacot]

Total alienation.

[@anukritibahuguna9960]

Wow. Absolutely loved this.

[@gaby9808]

How sad is this!.. this is not living..🙇🏼‍♀️ Wishing all of them/us awakening 🍀

[@xxx-xl8ku]

Well your happy life is depends on those repetitive lives

[@bhotsnax]

Thoroughly enjoyed this!

[@357761902]

真实

[@Helenshows]

it’s like their own little worlds and own little personalities or rooms but the contrast between them all is so crazy

[@ValVal-vb1cz]

Подмосковные вечера 😁

[@mams631]

5:10 you see her smashing that American KFC shit good with a biscuit and some pepsi

[@welcome0502]

I think this is not about their pitty lives but it is about the relationship with humans and products we produce.

[@mams631]

8:12 dead

[@tulkz]

They seem very relaxed. Does this mean factories are getting no orders from consumers?

[@henriquepalazzo]

Depressing...

[@MJFallout]

Very interesting. As a privileged and educated person I would be rather wary about all the chemical fumes exuded beaucoup by all these wonderful, brand spanking new products.

[@Davao420]

omg all the plastic...