China from the Inside

With its enthusiastic embrace of a free market philosophy, steadily booming economy, and billion-plus population, China is expected to be a dominant force in the 21st century. Yet even as the country prepares to host the 2008 Olympics, trouble may lie on the horizon. Jonathan Lewis' PBS-aired documentary China from the Inside takes a look at how this incredibly diverse country is dealing with challenge and change. Although China now enjoys prosperity, a widening gap is emerging between rich and poor, and the lack of development and investment in the countryside is driving poorly educated Chinese to the cities, contributing to social dislocation. The filmmakers have been granted access that would have been unthinkable only a few decades ago, talking to ordinary citizens, bureaucrats, and Communist party members, who speak frankly about a system very much dominated by corruption and a ruling party obsessed with micromanaging change and maintaining "harmony." Divided into four hour-long episodes, the documentary series examines the role of the Communist party in national and local affairs, the status of women in today's China, the tradeoff of pollution for prosperity, and prickly questions of freedom and justice in an authoritarian society. Viewers pondering the huge differences between American and Chinese society may well end up wondering whether there can truly be a dialogue or understanding between the two superpowers. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)