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Last Train Home

Play trailer Poster for Last Train Home Released Sep 3, 2010 1h 25m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 56 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Annually, an estimated 130 million factories workers in China migrate from their city of employment back to the village they grew up in. This documentary spotlights married couple Chen and Zhang as they make their own journey. Chen and Zhang must struggle to reconnect with their children, whom they see only once a year. When they discover that their daughter has decided to drop out of school to work at a factory herself, they begin questioning the value of their sacrifice.

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Last Train Home

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Critics Consensus

Last Train Home is a haunting, vivid documentary exploring the human toll of China's economic boom in intimate, unforgettable detail.

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Critics Reviews

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Keith Uhlich Time Out A deeply moving look at an unavoidably fractured family. Jul 2, 2021 Full Review Andrew Chan Film Comment Magazine Rivaling China's finest documentarians, first-time director Lixin Fan begins his Last Train Home with a handful of unshakable images. Nov 12, 2013 Full Review Andrea Gronvall Chicago Reader Chinese-Canadian director Lixin Fan considers the social upheavals wrought by China's economic miracle. Jan 4, 2011 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies A gripping documentary that reveals the depressing inadequacies of China’s social and financial structure. Rated: 4/5 Aug 23, 2022 Full Review John Powers NPR's Fresh Air The movie puts a human face on this migration by showing its affects on a single family. May 17, 2018 Full Review Laura Hiros Rincón de cine Do not miss it. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 4/5 Mar 22, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Lorry S I thought it was fascinating to see how other people in foreign countries live and work. I was born and raised in NY. So this story was very far from home (upper middle class). It makes you realize how lucky we are in The United States and appreciate our work and laws. A story for all ages. A must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/14/24 Full Review Audience Member Very immersive, you feel the lives of the family as if they're your own. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Slow, uninspired, cheap. The cameraman doesn't know what he's doing, and the whole thing feels very artificial (especially the comments on the foreigners) and relies on cultural shock to get good reviews from white people. This is coming from a Chinese person, btw. Boring, incoherent, and shitty film. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member This movie is about choices, no matter how many times the parents say they didn't have a choice. These people have it so backwards. they leave where it is beautiful and live where it is ugly. the mom and dad showed nothing but shame and critical judgement towards their kids. the daughter longs for what she has no idea she needs, something her parents never gave her, while they ironically did what they thought was best by abandoning her and sending nothing but money and guilty messages. the rural country is so beautiful, yet this whole situation is so sad. such a brainwashed and overpopulated world they live in. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member A rare glimpse into the lives of a group of people long exploited and mistreated. The sad thing it seems to still be their highest standard of living ever. Their family dynamic is interesting and sad. The doc is even more revealing in what the subjects aren't saying, it's all just below the surface, just like many families. The modernization of China may be rapidly expanding in its major cities, but still seems to have not spread at all to the country villages/small towns. It reminds me a little of reading about the beginnings of the original Industrial Revolution and the changes it brought to everyone. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member A masterful closer look into the consequences of China booming economy. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Last Train Home

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Movie Info

Synopsis Annually, an estimated 130 million factories workers in China migrate from their city of employment back to the village they grew up in. This documentary spotlights married couple Chen and Zhang as they make their own journey. Chen and Zhang must struggle to reconnect with their children, whom they see only once a year. When they discover that their daughter has decided to drop out of school to work at a factory herself, they begin questioning the value of their sacrifice.
Director
Lixin Fan
Producer
Mila Aung-Thwin, Daniel Cross
Production Co
Eye Steel Film, Telefilm Canada
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 3, 2010, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 23, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$285.8K
Runtime
1h 25m
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