Mardi Gras: Made in China

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.