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Mardi Gras: Made in China, Sun September 24
2006, 7:00 & 9:00

A startling look at the effect of globalization

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Mardi Gras: Made in China shows at IFS on Sun September 24, 2006, 7:00 & 9:00

Mardi Gras: Made in China
A startling look at the effect of globalization
Sun September 24
2006, 7:00 & 9:00

In his documentary "Mardi Gras: Made in China," David Redmon asks random drunken Mardi Gras celebrators in a pre-Katrina New Orleans if they're familiar with the origins of those strings of brightly colored beads so fundamental to the festivities. After receiving some truly maddening responses (such as, "Don't know, don't care — they're beads for boobs, man"), he takes us inside a factory in Fuzhou, China, to uncover the hard labor, sweat and tears that actually go into the manufacturing.

The grim reality he finds is that groups of teenage girls, and a handful of boys, live like prisoners in a fenced-in compound, often working 16-hour days while constantly exposed to styrene, a chemical known to cause cancer — all for about 10 cents an hour. Roger, the Chinese factory owner (or slave driver), is cruel and incredibly delusional; he seems actually to believe that he provides a suitable, even enjoyable workplace for his employees, though they certainly have opposing stories to tell.

A startling look at both the effects of globalization and at a dramatic cultural divide, the film contrasts the lives of the Chinese, hard workers who are forced to make serious sacrifices at very young ages, with indulgent Americans intent on having a good time and seemingly at ease with their lack of awareness. With any luck, this film will manage to open a few closed eyes (or minds). (L. Kern, New York Times)

To see a trailer and read a review, visit InternationalFilmSeries.com.

Tickets

10 films for $60 with punch card
$9 general admission. $7 w/UCB student ID, $7 for senior citizens
$1 discount to anyone with a bike helmet
Free on your birthday! CU Cinema Studies students get in free.

Parking

Pay lot 360 (now only $1/hour!), across from the buffalo statue and next to the Duane Physics tower, is closest to Muenzinger. Free parking can be found after 5pm at the meters along Colorado Ave east of Folsom stadium and along University Ave west of Macky.

RTD Bus

Park elsewhere and catch the HOP to campus

International Film Series

(Originally called The University Film Commission)
Established 1941 by James Sandoe.

First Person Cinema

(Originally called The Experimental Cinema Group)
Established 1955 by Carla Selby, Gladney Oakley, Bruce Conner and Stan Brakhage.

C.U. Film Program

(AKA The Rocky Mountain Film Center)
First offered degrees in filmmaking and critical studies in 1989 under the guidance of Virgil Grillo.

Celebrating Stan

Created by Suranjan Ganguly in 2003.

C.U. Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts

Established 2017 by Chair Ernesto Acevedo-Muñoz.

Thank you, sponsors!
Boulder International Film Festival
Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts

Looking for a gift for a friend?
Buy a Frequent Patron Punch Card for $60 at any IFS show. With the punch card you can see ten films (a value of $90).

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