Ascension

Released Oct 8, 2021

1 hr. 38 min.

Documentary

List

98%

49 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

50+ Ratings

Audience Score

An impressionistic exploration of the pursuit of wealth and the paradox of progress in the People's Republic of China, Ascension examines what living the so-called "Chinese Dream" looks like today.

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Critics Consensus

Ascension's patiently observational approach pulls back the curtain on consumerism and economic inequality in modern China.

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Yang S

非常典型的新左翼知识分子视角，通过大量异质、疏离的影像，试图形成对于"被资本主义侵蚀的中国"的一种观察。可惜的是这种冷眼旁观的视角终究只能为观众提供"悲悯的俯视"和"不屑的仰视"，更为复杂且模糊的平视、自视被导演有意无意地忽略掉了。不过这些电视新闻以外的记录镜头，对于中国人和外国人来说终归都是有益的。

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

dee k

Nothing can describe the scope, beauty and realism of this documentary. I've watched this under the influence and sober. It's just amazing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/01/22

Full Review

dave d

I loved this immersive portrait of Chinese culture and the idea of the "Chinese Dream" as is so rarely displayed. Jessica Kingdon's documentary feature breaks down the supply chain, how workers are recruited, and what people do in what little spare time they have. It is fascinating. China comes off as a technologically advanced country with early 20th Century values which is not a good thing. If you are in any way intellectually curious about a land that has plans to take our the world economy this should be immediately placed on top of your watchlist. Final Score: 9.4/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Ethan T

A beautiful and chilling documentary that shows the cycle of innovation and progress within China, Loved the combination of cinematography and music, and the observational approach allows the audience to soak every image in and pull meaning from it rather than having it given to us.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/18/22

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Audience Member

Seems almost everything has already been said. But seriously; am I the only one here who has ever seen and remembers Koyannisqatsi?

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/26/22

Full Review

Audience Member

I liked the "inside look" at a range of jobs and relative lifestyles…all that is not available to outside visitors.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

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Peter Debruge

Variety

No matter what your image of modern China, it’s nowhere near complete until you’ve seen it through New York-based, China-observing director Jessica Kingdon’s eyes.

Mar 28, 2022

Full Review

Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

The film is full of news, insights and revelations without pushing a dogmatic thesis: it's as open-ended and humanly interested as documentaries get.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 13, 2022

Full Review

Danny Leigh

Financial Times

Crucially, the film never patronises. Is anyone learning anything westerners haven't learned too, just less explicitly?

Rated: 4/5

Jan 13, 2022

Full Review

Josh Parham

Next Best Picture

The analysis is rich but more respected on an intellectual level instead of one that is genuinely moving, particularly as there isn't a natural flow to the pacing here.

Rated: 7/10

Jun 5, 2022

Full Review

Sean P. Means

The Movie Cricket

An eye-popping mosaic portrait of a nation on the move, though unsure of what exactly its moving toward.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 17, 2022

Full Review

Tim Brayton

Alternate Ending

An extraordinarily confident feature-length debut.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 31, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

An impressionistic exploration of the pursuit of wealth and the paradox of progress in the People's Republic of China, Ascension examines what living the so-called "Chinese Dream" looks like today.

Director: Jessica Kingdon
Executive Producer: David Dolby, Natasha Dolby, Kathryn Everett, Andy Hsieh, Ryan Kampe, Justin Lacob, Bryn Mooser, Tony Hsieh
Distributor: MTV Documentary Films
Production Co: Mouth Numbing Spicy Crab, XTR
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 8, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 15, 2021

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