Shanghai, Waiting for Paradise
A film by .

“Shanghai, Waiting for Paradise” (Shanghai, en attendant le paradis… / 方浜路的等待) is a moving story about life inside the home, minds and hearts of 3 generations of Chinese living under one roof in the old city of Shanghai, who are suddenly confronted by the imminent demolition of their home. The Wang family.
Over a 5 year period, Sylvie Levey filmed the intimacy of these seemingly ordinary Chinese people, whose realm is confined to a few square meters on a street corner. A world within a world condemned to vanish through unavoidable modernization globalization.
This 92 minute film is an intimate exploration of this unique and fragile transition…
A rare window into the psyche of the common men and women in China – most of whom are undergoing headswirling changes, and upon which all eyes will be focused in the summer of 2008.
The filming began in 2001 – a few months before the World Trade Center terrorist attack.


Press

"This intimate story of expropriation upcoming Wang, hopes and heartbreak it causes, acquires a historical dimension to what it reveals about the evolution of China during the last half-century, and even a universal aspect for what it reveals misunderstandings between generations, anywhere in the world. »
Le Monde

"Based in Shanghai since 10 ans, Sylvie Levey gave us some high quality documentaries, The Strange Fate of which Colonel Jin Xing. This new album does not disfigure the collection : a documentary produced perfectly. »
Le Nouvel Observateur

"An inspiring look at the lifestyle and mental representations of China today. »
Inrockuptibles

"This intimate story of expropriation upcoming Wang, hopes and heartbreak it causes, acquires a historical dimension to what it reveals about the evolution of China during the last half-century, and even a universal aspect for what it reveals misunderstandings between generations, anywhere in the world. »
Le Monde

"Based in Shanghai since 10 ans, Sylvie Levey gave us some high quality documentaries, The Strange Fate of which Colonel Jin Xing. This new album does not disfigure the collection : a documentary produced perfectly. »
Le Nouvel Observateur

"An inspiring look at the lifestyle and mental representations of China today. »
Inrockuptibles


Festivals

Official Selection, World Film Festival of Bangkok (2009)
Official Selection, Festival des Étonnants Voyageurs (Saint-Malo, 2008)
Résistances Festival (Foix, 2008)
Official Selection, Festival International du Film d'Istanbul (2007)
Official Selection, Image de Ville Festival (Aix-en-Provence, 2007)
Official Selection, 1001 Film Documentary Festival (Istanbul, 2007)