Transformation of China through eyes of Robert Carl Cohen
- By staff reporter Lu Rucai
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E-mail China Today, July 28, 2017
A Story of China through the Camera Lens
At the beginning of the documentary, Cohen describes how, as he followed China's rise over the last few years, he always had a little voice whispering in his ear, "go back to China." He wanted to be like the Monkey King in the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West, and have piercing golden eyes that could see straight through China and thoroughly understand it. He laments that China is like a "fairy tale world" undergoing huge changes against all the odds in just a few short years.
Gong Baohua, director of the cultural information department at Jilin Daily, said "when I heard Cohen recount the story of the ‘short stay that changed my direction in life,' in reference to the six weeks he spent in China over 50 years ago, quietly repeating ‘there was always a little voice that whispered, go back to China' – to be honest, seeing a foreigner with such strong feelings about China, you cannot help but feel deeply moved."
But what the audience found touching was not only these honest expressions of emotion, but also Cohen's thoughts on China's current development and the problems it faces. Cohen witnessed the fast pace of life in the migrant city of Shenzhen and the important role it has played in China's development.
In Shanghai, China's financial center and a cosmopolis, Cohen noticed the clash between rapid economic development and traditional culture. Gazing upon the skyscrapers, Cohen sighs, "Today the enthusiasm for building high rises is greater than at any time in China's long architectural history," but "the city's skyscrapers risk it losing its once distinctive features." Standing in Jinze, a water town on the outskirts of Shanghai, Cohen looked upon yet another scene – due to the severity of the aging population, all the young people here have moved to the big cities for work. Some wealthy Chinese people have started buying the ancient houses here, building private gardens, and restoring these old, historical buildings.
In 1957, Panjiagang near the Suzhou River in Shanghai was a typical slum district. The locals used to throw their garbage directly into the creek, and got their drinking water from it too. In 1957 when he was filming there, the local children surrounded Cohen, and curious of his hairy arms wanted to know if he "was some sort of monkey." But in the same place of today, all the filth and mess seen through the lens 50 years ago is gone. Neat and orderly residential compounds now dominate this area. But most importantly, Cohen said he felt the passion and openness of the Chinese people wherever he went, like the old man exercising in park of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, who, after hearing Cohen's story, gave him a thumbs-up and said: "You are great."
In the closing scene of the documentary, Cohen says he hopes to return to China on his 100th birthday. At this point, text appears on the screen showing comments from members of the audience saying, "Great idea! Come back when you are 100!"
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