One Child Nation

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2:25

One Child Nation

R

Released Aug 9, 2019

1h 25m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

102 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

After becoming a mother, a filmmaker uncovers the untold history of China's one-child policy and the generations of parents and children forever shaped by this social experiment.

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Critics Consensus

As illuminating as it is accessible, One Child Nation probes a painful chapter in Chinese history with piercing clarity.

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Brad Newsome

Sydney Morning Herald

Grand atrocities pile atop private heartbreak as this powerful film unfolds.

Dec 18, 2019

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David Fear

Rolling Stone

What eventually emerges is a peerless portrait of collective trauma - a devastating look at how this law not only sociologically gutted a country but made everyone complicit in the crime.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 18, 2019

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

[A] powerful documentary...

Rated: 4/5

Sep 25, 2019

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Bianca Garner

Filmotomy

Certainly a very powerful documentary, One Child Nation is one that I strongly urge people to seek out.

Oct 4, 2024

Full Review

Diego Batlle

Otroscines.com

Describes the scope, excesses, abuses and effects of the "one child policy" with force and sensitivity. [Full Review in Spanish]

Rated: 4/5

Oct 27, 2021

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

A difficult to see 'must see' documentary.

Rated: 3.5/4.0

Sep 18, 2020

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Mani G

The documentary primarily deals with how One Child Policy affected people of China at that time. Two types of people are to be seen who thought that the policy is against morals and people of China and others who believe that it was important for the growth of the country. But one thing is sure, government had implemented it very strictly and people felt like they had no choice. I would have loved to see more stories of people who could meet their lost or abandoned children. This documentary is definitely worth the watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/28/24

Full Review

Bahad j

In my opinion, the movie uses very good camera and audio visual equipment and the crew members and the filmmakers have played their roles very well. I really liked it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/01/24

Full Review

Geke g

This is why documentaries keep developing in film industry. Always pulling fresh air in the business. Enjoy for everyone

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/28/24

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Munkhchimeg T

How sad is this truth? I wish everyone watch it and catch some unique new feeling

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/24

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Zachary L

A great documentary about China's infamous one-child policy. Though, the filmmaker sort-of trips over herself when she smuggles in the topic of American Abortion rights. Other than that awkward moment, it's a nearly perfect film that I'd recommend to anyone.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/10/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Documentarian Nanfu Wang (whose name alluding to hopes for a son in the family) is a new mom whose own memories of China's one-child policy spanning 35 years led her to adventure upon the darkening trenches of a nation's harrowing extreme population control and its spine-chilling affliction on its people and their families.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

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Nanfu Wang

Director

Jialing Zhang

Director

Christopher Clements

Producer

Julie Goldman

Producer

Carolyn Hepburn

Producer

Christoph Jörg

Producer

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One Child Nation: Trailer 1

2:25

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Synopsis

After becoming a mother, a filmmaker uncovers the untold history of China's one-child policy and the generations of parents and children forever shaped by this social experiment.

Director: Nanfu Wang, Jialing Zhang
Producer: Christopher Clements, Julie Goldman, Carolyn Hepburn, Christoph Jörg
Distributor: Amazon Studios
Production Co: ITVS, Pumpernickel Films, Next Generation, Motto Pictures
Rating: R (Brief Language|Some Disturbing Content/Images)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 9, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 8, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $151.7K
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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