Tiexi District Shengyang Smelting Factory was the largest smelting factory in China, with a long history. Also called Sangold Factory, it was established in 1934. The documentary focuses mainly on the daily lives of the smelting workers. Shooting on the film began shortly before the factory closed down, and continued through the end of its banruptcy proceedings. The Shengyang Steel Mill was established by the Japanese in 1943, when it was known as the Nail Production Factory of Manchuria. In reality, the factory produced bayonets for the Japanese army. With more than 6.000 workers laid off, the mill ceased production in 1997, and awaited bankruptcy proceedings. Dismantling of the factory’s equipment began in June 2000, and continued until March of 2001. The film was shot before and after this dismantling. There are four railways in the Tiexi Industrial District connecting all the factories. The main lines run a total of 20 kilometres. One train runs through the district every day to carry raw materials and finished products. The documentary explores the relationship between the railway employees and the tramps who hang around the railway stealing the train’s cargo. Gorgeous Street was a shed area where some of the people working in the Tiexi District lived. The documentary looks at the conflict between the estate businessmen and the more than 700 families living there during the period of shed reconstruction. The lives of the second generation to live in the sheds are also vividly recorded in the film. [aus dem Forumprogramm]