Bill China Blue is one of the most interesting, intelligent documentaries I've ever seen. It sets itself apart from other documentaries in how closely attached we become to the workers the filmmakers chose to concentrate on in the film. We get to see away from the factory floor and even to the countryside where they immigrated from. I've spent hours speaking with assistant producer Song Chen, the Taiwanese-American who speaks Chinese and who did so much of the work to gain the impossible access to the factory workers, even filming in their dorm rooms. This film would have only taken 2 to 3 years to film IF one of the two main people in the factory didn't quit and disappear. An incredible tragedy on the surface, in fact, to all of those who fell in love with the new worker, the delay and re-filming was one of the things that allowed the director and Song go far more deeply into the reality of the situation than they normally would have been able to. I don't know how engaging the original girl would have been, but the two girls who ended up taking part in the filming (and who were NOT paid, but told to cooperate by the factory owner, who thought the movie was being made about HIM) were simply wonderful. Part of what makes the film fascinating was how things 'accidentally' worked out in the favor of the documentary. The factory putting off paying them until they called a mini- protest/revolt and won... all caught on film by chance... The unbelievers would have you believe that the workers might not have behaved that way if there wasn't a camera. The workers thought the camera was off. Song was shooting that scene, put the camera down to her side, and purposely failed to turn the camera off. That was one of the greatest moments in the film. That and the forbidden scenes of the birthday party in the country that helped attach the viewers to the wonderful characters and their families. Ironically, what made this film great is exactly what the naysayers hold against it.... in fact, it is SO GOOD, that it seems just too good to be true. It's IMPOSSIBLE to have gotten all the scenes they got.... impossible of course, unless they spent 4 years of their lives filming and editing this film! The very few incredulous viewers' logic supposing a fake documentary is flawed. If the director wanted to stage a fake documentary, he could have done it in a few days or weeks. With virtually 4 FULL YEARS involved in the different stages of the filming and editing of this movie, the director and his assistant producer created what is close to one of the most perfect documentaries, and truest ever made. The one sour note in all of this is that when PBS airs this on April 3, it will be a much shorter documentary. They will edit out 1/3 of the movie; some of the most interesting scenes of Chinese country life that attached viewers so closely to the people in the film. It will be a simpler documentary, just about the factory conditions in China. This film is important and a must see.

volcfilm The extraordinary patience and perseverance of Micha Peled, against much Chinese obstruction, rewards us with appalling insights to the world of cheap labour exploitation in China. The near slavery of the young garment workers shames our own cushy lives and reveals the darkest side of international trade. No one should buy a pair of cheap fashion jeans ever again without knowing what China Blue reveals went into making them for the price.See the film and understand the ruthless modern world. Raise your voice if you can for workers rights in China. (Check out 'Labour behind the Label'). Above all remember that many people have suffered to provide you and me with a bargain. John Dollar

mbelton-2 We witness their struggle through their eyes. It is like a prison for them, These factories sponsored by those wearing their products in the West. i.e. Levis Jeans i.e. us. An average worker earns less than US$60 a month for a work day consisting of nearly 17 hours in some cases with no overtime. These workers are mostly young villagers from poor families who come to the cities to work in the factories so they can send money home to their families. The film leaves the audience with some loaded questions: How can we boycott the companies and all those associated with this gross exploitation of basic human rights. And can we put on our Levis again with a clear conscience. Better check where it's made first. This has to be one of the best documentaries of all 2006 and it is as well made as it is revealing. I congratulate the producers on risking being caught filming, when it is forbidden in china for foreign media to film in China, and bringing much needed clarity on this issue to western audiences. After all who are those big tall people?

tanguero17 This movie made me reflect for the first time in my life who are the people making the clothes that I and my family wears. My daughter was so moved that she went home and threw out of her wardrobe everything with a "Made in China" label. Now she wants to write a letter back to Jasmine, the heroine of the movie.If all teenagers see this movie something will change in the whole globalization/outsourcing system.After reading in the end credits that the film crew was arrested in China while shooting this movie I am wondering what else is going on in China that we don't know about. You keep hearing the media about human rights abuse in China, but I've always thought it was only done to individuals who dare to protest. This film shows it's systematic and millions of people suffer as a result.