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In Theaters Now

2024
Icarus Films
3 h 47 m

2024
Icarus Films
3 h 47 m

Youth (Hard Times)

Summary Individual and collective stories unfold in Zhili's textile workshops, becoming more dramatic as the seasons go by. From atop a passageway, workers watch their boss beat up a supplier. In another workshop, the boss has taken off with all the money. The workers are alone, robbed of the fruits of their labor. After bitter negotiations, the...

Documentary

Directed By: Wang Bing

Written By: Wang Bing

In Theaters Now

2024
Icarus Films
3 h 47 m

2024
Icarus Films
3 h 47 m

Youth (Hard Times)

Metascore Universal Acclaim Based on 8 Critic Reviews

84

User Score Generally Favorable Based on 4 User Ratings

6.5

My Score

Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Not available in your country?

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$6.67/mth

Summary Individual and collective stories unfold in Zhili's textile workshops, becoming more dramatic as the seasons go by. From atop a passageway, workers watch their boss beat up a supplier. In another workshop, the boss has taken off with all the money. The workers are alone, robbed of the fruits of their labor. After bitter negotiations, the...

Documentary

Directed By: Wang Bing

Written By: Wang Bing

Where to Watch

Not available in your country?

Get 3 Extra months free

$6.67/mth

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Universal Acclaim Based on 8 Critic Reviews

100% Positive
8 Reviews

0% Mixed
0 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Universal Acclaim Based on 8 Critic Reviews

100% Positive
8 Reviews

0% Mixed
0 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

The New York Times

Oct 31, 2024

Shot in a present-tense vérité style, it stitches together micro-stories into a larger narrative in which negotiation can’t undo exploitation.

By Nicolas Rapold FULL REVIEW

Nov 1, 2024

This one stands out not only because it’s the fittingly agonizing climax to Wang’s trilogy but also for its sheer wealth of heartbreaking and totally convincing details.

By Simon Abrams FULL REVIEW

Sep 25, 2024

Hard Times is just as unflinching as Spring in its repetitive nature, but the second installment adds a dynamic approach to the material that was lacking in Spring.

By Katarina Docalovich FULL REVIEW

Aug 15, 2024

“Hard Times” offers no radical change from the (quite deliberately) repetitive construction of “Spring,” but does feature subtle shifts in focus and certainly a lot more in the way of incident and splintering effects.

By Josh Slater-Williams FULL REVIEW

Sep 4, 2024

Hard Times, as the name title suggests, is not an easy film to watch, nor is it intended to be.

By Jonathan Romney FULL REVIEW

Aug 15, 2024

At nearly four hours in length, it surpasses even its gargantuan predecessor “Youth (Spring),” but it also uses that film as a platform for deeper exploration.

By Siddhant Adlakha FULL REVIEW

Sep 12, 2024

The second installment in Wang Bing’s trilogy of documentaries about garment workers similarly leans into durational extremes but eventually and sneakily reveals a broadened scope.

By Jake Cole FULL REVIEW

See All 8 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

User Score

Generally Favorable Based on 4 User Ratings

50% Positive
2 Ratings

25% Mixed
1 Rating

25% Negative
1 Rating

User Reviews

User Score

Generally Favorable Based on 4 User Ratings

50% Positive
2 Ratings

25% Mixed
1 Rating

25% Negative
1 Rating

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

Production Company Chinese Shadows, Gladys Glover, House on Fire, Les Films Fauves, Volya Productions

Release Date Nov 1, 2024

Duration 3 h 47 m

Genres

Documentary

Website https://icarusfilms.com/df-youht

View All Details

Awards

Locarno Film Festival

• 3 Wins & 4 Nominations

Valladolid International Film Festival

• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

Golden Horse Film Festival

• 1 Nomination

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