Trailer for the documentary Weaving.
A Soviet-style factory and its worker village in Xi’an are slated for demolition. Set against China’s relentless pursuit of economic prosperity, Weaving tells a universal story of two families dealing with relocation and the shifting roles and responsibilities between aging parents and adult offspring. As the eviction date draws near, the residents negotiate compensation, deal with bureaucracy and ensure adequate living space for the extended family in their replacement homes. But grown-ups often revert to being children in the presence of mom and dad, regardless of age, and the looming move ignites ancient sibling rivalries, pits blood relatives against in-laws and exposes the preferential treatment sons are given over daughters regarding inheritance. The imminent destruction of the factory is a metaphor for the families’ interpersonal relations—razing and rebuilding present an opportunity to start over, whether it’s with a residence or a relative.