• Director(s):

    DELLEUR (Céline), DELLEUR (Laurence)

  • Producer(s):

    ARTE GEIE, GALAXIE PRESSE

  • Territories:

    Worldwide.

  • Production year:

    2018

  • Language(s):

    German, English, Spanish, French, Polish

  • Rights:

    TV, NON-THEATRICAL, INTERNET

The existence of a large number of centennials in the region of Bama in Guangxi has transformed this remote province into a top destination for the Chinese who are fascinated by longevity.

Several millions of them now make the trip every year to visit these centennials or alleged centennials. They hope to be blessed with longevity themselves. Western demographers doubt their real age – the absence of a civil registry before the Cultural Revolution prevents any concrete verification.
Not far from there, the cranes are busy. Numerous tourism companies of the neighboring provinces are competing and proposing ever more ambitious and astonishing projects; they seek to accomodate those the locals call “migratory birds” – Chinese tourists who decide to settle for a few months or years. They are attracted to this region for its reputation of being a great place to live, where the pure air and the high quality spring water could even cure some of their ailments.
A consequence of this booming tourism industry is that more and more waste is accumulating with the increased number of visitors. The water treatment plants are overflowing and the farmers are deprived of their plots of land for the benefit of nursing homes and hotels. What originally made the wealth of this valley is currently causing its downfall...