The World

The World is a 2004 film directed by Jia Zhangke, set among migrant workers at a Beijing theme park that recreates landmarks from around the globe.

World Park: A Beijing theme park featuring miniature replicas of famous sites from around the world. The film’s setting turns global landmarks into a workplace and a stage for everyday life.
Sixth Generation (filmmakers): A group of Chinese filmmakers who emerged in the 1990s, often depicting contemporary urban life. The World belongs to a cinema attentive to people left out of official modernization narratives.
Zhao Tao: A Chinese actress and dancer who has appeared in many films directed by Jia Zhangke. She plays Tao, a dancer whose work and relationships anchor the film.
World Park, Beijing: A theme park in Beijing known for miniature replicas of landmarks from around the world. The film’s fictionalized park draws directly on this real attraction.
Venice Film Festival: An annual international film festival held in Venice, Italy. The World screened in competition there, bringing Jia Zhangke’s film to a major international audience.
Migrant worker: A person who moves from one region to another for employment, often without changing permanent residence. The characters’ labor and restricted mobility drive the film’s social landscape.
Platform (2000 film): A 2000 film by Jia Zhangke following a performance troupe through China’s cultural shifts from the 1970s to the 1990s. Its account of social transition precedes The World’s focus on contemporary urban transformation.
Chen Taisheng: A Chinese actor who plays the security guard Taisheng in The World. His character’s romance with Tao develops alongside the park’s daily routines.
The World (2004 film) ending: The final sequence of Jia Zhangke’s film, which leaves the characters’ fate unresolved. Its abruptness concentrates the film’s sense of precarity and uncertainty.
Censorship in China: The regulation and restriction of expression by Chinese state authorities. The film’s initial release without official approval shaped its distribution and public discussion.

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