Up the Yangtze: Documentary Takes on Social Impact of Three Gorges Dam in China

The Three Gorges dam along China”s Yangtze river is the world”s largest hydroelectric project and is due to be completed in 2009. Widely touted as a feat of modern engineering, the dam was supposed to stop flooding along the river and provide clean energy to fuel China”s economic boom. But its also gained notoriety as an environmental and human catastrophe.

In addition to concerns over pollution, the rising waters have also increased the number of landslides on the steep slopes around the reservoir. Thirty five people were killed in a landslide near the dam late last year. Last July enormous waves caused by a landslide killed 24 farmers and fishermen. Adding to the human cost, nearly 1.5 million people have already been displaced by the dam.

“Up the Yangtze” is a critically acclaimed new documentary about the social impact of the Three Gorges dam. The film opens at the IFC Center in New York tomorrow. We speak with Yung Chang, the director of the film.

Yung Chang, Chinese-Canadian filmmaker based in Montreal. He is the director of “Up the Yangtze.”

Related Links

• Up the Yangtze