Mardi Gras: Made in China (2005) User Reviews

This a movie that covers multiple barriers and cultures

[mpmike2 · 7/10 · 8 May 2007]

Mardi Gras: Made in china is an excellent movie that depicts how two cultures have much in common but, are not even aware of the influence each society has on one another. David Redmon open your eyes and allows you to see how the workers in china manufactures beads that cost little to nothing and are sold in America for up to 20 dollars. When Redmon questions Americans about where these beads come from they had no clue and seemed dumb founded. When he told them that they are made in China for less then nothing with horrible pay and unacceptable working conditions, Americans seemed sad, hurt, and a little remorseful but didn't really seem that they would stop purchasing the beads after finding out the truth. When Redmon questioned the workers in china they did not know that Americans were wearing them over their necks and paid so much for these beads. The workers laughed at what the purpose was behind beads and couldn't believe it. This movie is a great film that gives us something to think about in other countries besides our own.

M. Pitts

A Good Clear View, Unbiased, DEFINITELY worth watching!

[myroseblooms · 8/10 · 6 October 2010]

Just finished watching this film, and was amazed and appalled--amazed at what the girls went through to produce the pretty trash we play with and throw most of away at Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's, etc.--appalled at the Americans shown, so thoughtless and base, and really, most of them so ignorant. Hell, I'm an American and even I was saddened and disgusted at the excess of Mardi Gras. I love to party and have a good time--just got drunk and danced and enjoyed myself with my husband and friends Saturday night--however, there are limits. That 1000 people expose their breasts and genitalia every 3 MINUTES during Mardi Gras is absurd--for BEADS! I'm afraid I agree with the factory girls--it's embarrassing and just damned crazy! Those girls confined and working 11-16 hours a day, still had the need for music and posters and dancing and having their own good time of their own--and it was heartening to see them enjoying their home vacation during Spring Festival. Yes, to many, the father may seem awful because he sent the girl off to work, but nobody twisted her arm--she said she was bored with school and there was nothing to do in her village, so she was happy to go out and work and earn money for the family. It's not just girls either--plenty of factories hire mostly men, especially on the industrial side. Who knows? Perhaps her pampered little brother will decide to leave school and work in another factory--being poor is no bowl of cherries, and he may decide the money is worth the work. The film made the contrast clear between the girl's home and the boss' home too, but you would see that difference here as well. Rich and poor and the stark contrasts between them exist everywhere, but I think a film like this is needed--too many Americans are blind and ignorant about what goes on across the sea in other countries. I will also say this, the boss in the film and the factory, as bad as they were, would be considered high level in most of China--there are FAAAARRRR worse factories there, with MUCH worse conditions--do some research at your local library. LeslieT. Chang's "Factory Girls" is a good start. Spread the word--this is a worthy film and worth seeing by any standard! Should definitely be shown in schools (the "Educator's Version", of course!).

Mardi Gras will never look the same again...

[ashley-131 · 10/10 · 8 May 2005]

Mardi Gras: Made in China provides a wonderful, intricate connection between popular culture, nudity, and globalization through the making and tossing of beads. I saw this film at the International Film Festival of Boston, and was expecting a dry introduction to globalization, but what I got was a riveting visual display of shocking footage from both China and the United States. The eye-opening film is humorous, in-depth, serious, non-patronizing, and it leaves you wanting more as the credits role. It is worth comparing to Murderball -- it's simply that well done. The young women workers in China have various points of view, and the owner is amazingly open about the discipline. The revelers during Carnival are the highlight, but only because this excellent film provides in-depth context inside the factory in China without narration. Bravo to the filmmaker for getting inside and finishing the film! I would have never thought about the connection between beads, China, and New Orleans; now I think about the human connection between almost every object, but also the role of globalization, inequality, and fun. More importantly, I can make these connections without feeling a sense of guilt after watching this film, unlike other films on globalization that I've seen.

Classic Imperialism: an American export

[marymmcnally · 10/10 · 23 April 2005]

The film exposes the blatant exploitation of the Chinese worker - generally female - garnering footage from the Chinese business owner who shares his unashamed and delusional viewpoint, his American counterpart also as unashamed and delusional, the oppressed workers who are given a voice and, of course, the drunken Americans who wear the beaded necklaces mindlessly celebrating in New Orleans.

The glimmer of hope comes when some Americans are actually outraged that people making their beaded necklaces were getting paid like $0.10 per hour to do so. You also have a feeling that the workers may have a chance to escape working in the bead factory, but will probably do so when they get fed up with the punishment treatment popular with the factory owner and/or they just get too exhausted to work up to 20 hours a day of hard labor.

I have wondered where those necklaces came from, not realizing how completely grueling and arduous it would be to make them. I just truly appreciated this film as it beautifully portrays the impact American indulgence has over something we consider relatively innocuous in our society on peoples on the other side of the world. Honorable mention goes to Wal-Mart. It is simply amazing. And clearly, just the tip of the iceberg!

an eye-opening look inside a Chinese bead factory

[jennifer-286 · 9/10 · 13 April 2005]

In this documentary we meet Roger, the rich manager of a factory in China that makes beads and other trinkets sold and traded at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Roger claims the factory girls love their work and are grateful for the opportunities it provides, but interviews with four of them tell quite another story. The girls' bleak lives are shown in stark contrast to the bizarre excesses of Mardi Gras itself. Filmmaker David Redmon should be lauded for getting excellent and rare footage of everyday life inside a Chinese factory compound, and for landing a revealing on-camera interview with the head of the U.S. company that imports and sells the beads. The movie is compellingly told and clearly serves its purpose as a window into what lies behind those ubiquitous "Made in China" labels.

Excellent documentary!

[makersoffilm1 · 10/10 · 10 July 2005]

Excellent film that reveals how people are connected to the taken for granted, ordinary beads exchanged during Mardi Gras. The film is much more than a commentary on globalization. In fact, it humanizes the workers in China, the owner of the factory, the bead distributor in New Orleans, and even the revelers in New Orleans. What stands out the most is the director's ability to tell a tricky story with complicated details in such a simple and seductive way. His amazing access to the factory is another aspect that's intriguing and I only wish I knew how he got inside. It's a beautiful story without sentimentality or guilt associated with it, and the conclusion provides hope without leaving people feeling alienated.

Excellent, astounding docu on popular culture and globalization -- meditative, moving, and funny

[filmsinny · 10/10 · 19 February 2005]

Wow! Wow! Wow! I have never seen a non-preachy documentary on globalization until I saw MARDI GRAS: MADE IN CHINA. This film has zero narration and combines verite footage with sensitive interviews with four teenage workers in China who live inside a factory compound. They play with toys, jump rope, and dance. Yet, the majority of their days and nights consist of work, work, and work -- but the footage of their work is illuminating and mesmerizing to watch. The owner of the factory in China is amazingly open, so much so that he hits home the effects of globalization while he "punishes" the workers. Astutely following Mardi Gras beads from China to the Carnival, the film reveals how the local is connected to the global through humor and interesting, compelling footage from both cultures. One of the most interesting parts in this film is the cross cultural introduction of factory workers and Mardi Gras revelers to each other through pictures. Here, the film comes full circle and shows how images can be a point of communication and transformation. The film is never preachy, is not guilt driven, and allows everyone's point of view to be present. At the end, we -- the viewers -- make up our own conclusions about the complexity of the film, and globalization.

Cheap plastic crap

[Quag7 · 9/10 · 28 August 2006]

Sharp, well-made documentary focusing on Mardi Gras beads. I have always liked this approach to film-making - communicate ideas about a larger, more complex, and often inscrutable phenomenon by breaking the issue down into something familiar and close to home.

I am sure most people have heard stories about sweatshops and understand the basic motives behind profit and capitalism, and globalism's effect on poorer nations (however people feel about it). Rather than expound on these subjects and get up on a soapbox (not that there's anything wrong with that, other than such documentaries typically preach to the converted), this documentary simply shows Mardi Gras beads, how they are manufactured, by what people, and under what conditions, and then how they are utilized by consumers at the end of the process. It openly and starkly investigates the motivations of everyone involved in the process, including workers, factory management, American importers, and finally, the consumer at the end of the chain.

I felt a little sickened by this; equally by the Mardi Gras revelers, but also by the way the workers in China have accepted their situation as normal and par for the course (even if they have some objections to the details of how they are managed). The footage of the street sweepers cleaning up the beads off the streets at the end, made a particular impression. But that was just my reaction; I can see how someone else might read this documentary a little differently.

Unlike other documentaries on this subject, I don't think you have to have any specific political opinion to be affected by this. This is ultimately a story about human beings and our relation to the goods we produce and consume. If you have ever bought a product made in the Far East, this should give you something to think about.

Outstanding and highly recommended. Need to see more documentaries like this. Kudos to all of those involved in the making of this film.

This film is excellent

[Cyndy08080 · 10/10 · 26 April 2006]

I've watched this documentary twice - and although I'm an major movie buff, most documentaries don't hold my attention. This film however was mesmerizing. Almost every shot is perfect - saying so much more than an audio commentary (which this documentary does not have).

The concept of this film is amazing, I can't praise it enough. Mardi Gras beads - who would have thought??

Amazing and excellent choices of interviews - film footage of a factory in China - the film makes you feel like you are actually there.

I'm political aware - and I've read several books on globalization so there wasn't anything in this film that was a surprise to me. However, it's made me think so much.

I wish so much too, that this world was a better place.

A million kudos to the filmmaker - and thanks for making this film too.

I wish everyone could see it.

Personal reflection

[Parvulesco · 29 January 2005]

Redmon showed this at my college in November ('04), I thought it was well done, he doesn't try to tell his viewers what to think- he gives them the benefit of the doubt that they can make their own decisions. He makes an effort during the sweat shop scenes to show the viewer the repetition of the work- with out making you board. He makes some very good deep connections with people which adds to the depth of the film. but he does a good job of showing the contrast between the factory workers and the N'Orleans partiers. i wonder if he decided to leave the bead artist guy clip in or not. i hope he does well at sun-dance, it was a very genuine piece made by a genuine person.

An Outstanding Contrast Between Fun and the Labour That's Behind It

[Caesarboy5 · 10/10 · 16 October 2013]

Look, this documentary will by no account win an award for the best documentary. And that's because it's not your typical documentary: it's unbiased. There is no narration to guide you through, think for you, and give you an opinion. You're just presented the edited footage of both interviews with people enjoying Mardi Gras and the young girls creating the infamous beads in China.

Redmon isn't interested in getting preachy and forcing a message down your throat. You get to decide what to make of it. He also provides you with everything you need to make up your mind from interviews with frightened workers to the wealthy distributors in America. Everyone get's a chance to defend themselves.

Go out and get a copy if these kind of documentaries interest you. It will surely send some chills down your bones as you watch little girls who live in their factory, work 14 hours a day, and are only allowed to leave on Sundays... if they don't have extra work to do.

Very informative and NON opinionated film

[jaynoz24 · 9/10 · 1 May 2007]

Documentaries of this kind are often very opinionated. This film seems to take all opinions out and let the viewer decide what to do with the information provided. It is sad the conditions these poor people have to work in, this film does a great job of showing the ugly side of sweat shops. The film Mardi Gras: Made in China was a good way of showing the world how something as petty as beads for a celebration can effect the lives of so many people in another country.

I had to watch this film for an English class where we spent our time talking about sweat shops and how some people are trying to eliminate them and this film helped get the topic rolling. It was a great, very informative movie and I'd recommend anyone see it, it kinda opens your eyes.

Movie Sends Out Mixed Messages

[llpang668 · 28 October 2009]

The movie exposes some ugly corners in manufacturing world in China, hiring young girls to work in sweatshop conditions on low wages. This exposes the harsh reality of China- a third world developing country. The country has the world largest population of 3.1 Billion, has it ever occurred to anybody how each and every one of the people get fed and housed and maybe provided glimpses of hope of getting out of dire poverty situation? How come there are so many people outside China got so upset with China over their one-child policy? ( I certainly understand that family planning should not be something that government sticks their noses in and it is government wrongdoing in that practice )-- The harsh reality is: the population was simply exploding and families couldn't afford to feed all. Can you imagine what the people was wearing and eating late 70's? What the movie shows is one sea side area ( with probably no forms of industry )in Fujian province, how come nobody picks up what the father was saying over and over again: if my daughter does not work in this factory, she will be working in another factory...I'll probably send her outside ( of the country ) to...make money, if you have money you can build factory, you 'll be rich... It all sounds too familiar like a dream/nightmare for a bottom-feeder penniless nameless young man becomes rich and fast. How real is that in today's world? I'm sorry, but it seems to me that in his eye, she is like a money -making machine. Some kind of father/parent. (But don't mistake that all fathers in China are like that. As a matter of fact, it's a ...regional thing. )If you ever read reports or visited families in Missisippi river area, you'll know for some reaosn quite some families do not hold similar values over education like you and me. Sorry I strayed, back to the movie now. In the interview that the crew followed her to her hometown where they met with her family, her nephew said she quit high school, others all silenced him. So she didn't like school, or she didn't do well in school, so what? She deserves food and shelter and a job, right? Sounds good, but who's going to provide that? What about the other 9999 high school graduates in the district? Well, let me put it this way, in China, education is about the only way for a future of any kind of decent ( professional, well-paying,busy, hard-working, reqarding and fulfilling) living. But doesn't it go like that in all over the world? Try to land and hold on a job like that in America! What goes around comes around. Come to think of it, in this world, Far East and Western, a lot of things are quite similar and different at core level. While this movie is a provocative movie that exposed some ugly corners in the manufacture end and consumer end of the business chain, the images created mixed messages. This is a consumer world among all other descriptors we can use for our endearing Earth home for all mankind,like it or not, think of it like this: when you produce, you do your best; when you consume, you try to have fun. The value on each end are measured by different components! The both ends are just not , in real world, lined up like that as shown in the movie unless you are trying to send some message. Say, a teacher in a low-performing district , when he/she does the job, does he/she think of the 60% of his students who have no hope of graduation at all, or probably end up in some low life indecent doings? Can we trace it backwards like this: well, since 60% of the students are not going too far in life, the job of the teacher just holds no or low value, it should just be trashed like those trinkets in New Orleans... Back to the movie: Let me ask this question: where do you think the girls are going in life? I do think they or any human being deserves decent working condition and fair wages, don't get me wrong, the job does give her a way out as pointed in the movie. I am pleased to see that recycled beads are sent as "care package" to soldiers in Iraq. Is the movie about wastefull bizarre lifestyle and recycling beads, or fighting for decent wages for the girls in factories? My conclussion is that David wants to take upon something LOUD, but I think he made a poor choice in this as an movie artist. Someone may be very upset that poor China ( or rich ...)is the largest debtor of Uncel Sam...it's so condusing to many! It's not China's problem, the problem is with economic chain itself. China is just a game player like Uncle Sam in the global market. Watch out, here comes China.

Good Stuff

[Michael_Elliott · 28 February 2008]

Mardi Gras: Made in China (2005)

*** (out of 4)

Pretty interesting documentary that shows where the beads used in Mardi Gras come from. We see people being forced to work 14 hours and if they don't get their numbers then they must work over off the clock. We see people being forced to work for ten cents an hour only to have their pay cut down to eight cents. We also see them charged a days pay if they are caught talking. We also see that it's mostly young girls (age 13-18) who are forced to work due to their families being poor. It was pretty eye opening seeing all of this stuff going on but I think the documentary should have focused more on China's laws instead of trying to blame those who go to Mardi Gras. The best part of the film is when the director goes to Mardi Gras and shows the party people what is going on in China. Then he goes to China and shows the workers how the beads are being used.

Interdependence

[thatsmrbojangles · 21 January 2007]

First off, congrats to David Redmon for birthing such a glittering image of wasted beads. You can see by the end of the doc that the globalized capitalist economy is built on consumer desire. The factory owner, Roger, sees what he wants to see: a purpose for his product. He even sees that apex of Chinese desire: fleeting happiness. His delusion stands in stark contrast to the opinions of his workers and Mardi Gras revellers. Roger is evidently living in the 1980s, not seeing that the market that Deng Xiaoping opened has now become, in Hu Jintao's time, a market based on branding and self-promotion, not mind-dulling labour. It is the inventive and creative capability of any nation that makes it a powerhouse, not its stature as "the factory of the world". Roger(China, developping country) makes almost ten times less than Dom's profit of (USA, G8 member) 13 million.

If Redmon terms his American documentary as a "cultural exchange", where he shows Americans to Chinese people and Chinese people to Americans, then he should make his motives and actions clear. Revellers may understandably want to be anonymous, but whomever made the IMDb page should credit the workers Redmon interviewed: Ga Hong Mei, Qui Ba, Lio Lila. Who is his translator? What is her name? Nowhere does Redmon credit her. By failing to even credit his informants, here again the documentarian is an American Imperialist trash-picker, cleaning up nothing and just poking content to dump elsewhere.

Where are mentions of Buy Nothing Day? To where can capitalist desires be funnelled? We need an exposé of that. Calling for an exposure of public space and community building! Calling for an unmasking of PolyStyrene's and PolyEthlene's impact on the environment! Calling for a parade of vegans to reconsider the health of their environment in their support for petrol-based nylon and vinyl for shoes and accessories over First Nations' leather. Everyone sort out your own yard!

To where does the collective guilt that these questions stir up lead? How do journalists target "the way things are" for so long without making up their minds to support one side, another, or your own? Are you going to wait until you're welcomed in the public eye before you finally blow your real opinion out of the metaphorical water? Are you going to be a cog in the machine until you're "freed" by your substantial massed money? Are you pleasuring others in your pleasure?