Ascension Cast :
Jessica Kingdon has served triple roles as the director and editor and created captivating images while working behind the camera with Nathan Truesdell. The innovative music resulted from Dan Deacon. Michelle Mylett also worked. (Wrong Turn 8: The Return of Horror)
Ascension – Official Trailer (2021)
Ascension Story
For a good 96 minutes, the documentary highlights the class divide prevalent in China. The scenes are well shot to create a multi-dimensional overview where elites habituate themselves to eating bananas with fork and knife to women preparing dolls for pleasure arising out of demanding clients. The director, Jessica Kingdon, was evident when she documented the movie, highlighting the plight of factory workers who were subjected to fulfill the needs of middle-class entrepreneurs. Then came the elites, who were the reasons the products were targeted.
Although. for the world, the economy of China is growing in leaps and bounds, has the world ever pondered how blue-collar workers are subjected to it? Needless to mention almo, everyone has some time or the other would have come across “Made in China” products for their use.
She focussed on how factory workers in great strength are paid low and confined to a dead-end job with no sign of growth and promotion. Many such workers are forced to work while standing for long hours. At the same time, those who recruit them try to give a caring angle that they can sit during work.
So, what are the kinds of jobs depicted?
Amongst the innumerable number of jobs prevalent in China, few are mentioned in terms of an institute training flight attendant, company manufacturing phones, pens, garments, pill bottles, cosmetics enterprise, etc.
In the whole sequence of events of the documentary, the director has set her vision crystal clear about how workers are the reasons for the booming hyper-capitalist economy. These workers are forced due to situations where they have no ‘second’ choice and are often taken for granted. In short, a dark side is often overlooked in the glittering economy, and no one wants to discuss it. The contrasting scenes are well documented, highlighting how the elites of China have nothing to do with the less fortunate as they live in a state of comfort, convenience, and luxury. For example, one of the scenes relates to an influencer who seems to be in distress due to getting a heat stroke while overlooking the fact that the gardener is working at a stone’s throw distance.
Ascension is a documentary presented by a lady with more knowledge about Chinese than others, thanks to her half-Chinese heritage. Although, she is an outsider who has shown what she feels. The audience may have a difference of opinion, though. Especially when concluding with scenes where the scarves were stitched with the tagline “Keep America Great.”
The middle part of the documentary deals with the ‘Etiquettes,’ where people are enrolling in coaching and seminary to learn the same. Additionally, women are taught how to present themselves and the importance of a charming personality, where a smiling face needs to be trained appropriately. (They should learn how to expose the upper part of their teeth.) in the process. Similarly, they should know when to hug. At the same time, men folks imbibe the traits to become perfect butlers or bodyguards.
The documentary won’t do justice, as where the elites spend their disposable income isn’t mentioned. Yes, they do so in many places, such as amusement parks, deriving pleasure in video arcades, or learning the intricacies of eating European cuisines.
The documentary has undoubtedly been an achievement for her because the scenes are short and strategized, keeping in view the hidden agenda. That is to highlight the increasing disparity for the world to see and take note of. Hence, the situations can’t certainly be overlooked. For the audience to get a better grasp, it is essential to immerse in the movie to know and understand the prevailing situation.
In short, the movie focuses on contemporary China, thanks to the mind-blowing and artistically shot and creative cinematography. It won’t be possible without Kingdom and Nathan Truesdell. Thanks to visually mesmerizing and amazing shots that can seriously bring the growing difference in classes to light.
Ascension Ending Explained
She has concerns about how the capitalists of China have monopolized the ideologies according to a billboard that praised the “Chinese Dream,” which focussed on working hard to realize the dreams coming true. Such a ‘Line” in itself creates many unanswered queries, like how the workers recruited on the pretext of doing “easy work” can live the life of their dreams after getting $2.99 per hour. Her documentary has such a query that needs a serious answer.
Also, another banner proves to be hollow concerning how people taking shortcuts are publicly shamed, especially as jaywalkers are subjected to the same, as they take shortcuts. Promoters have also come up with large banners that motivate the workers with catchy slogans that read “Sense of Worth,” “Chinese Dream,” etc., primarily focusing on working hard to fulfill their dreams. The documentary ends with various queries about how a class is divided and is all set to grow more extensive and profound.
The rich are getting richer as they have comparably easy and short routes to success, while the poor are only subjected to work in a set parameter with no sign of getting awarded or promoted. Yes, that’s exactly where the concerns thrown by the director invite questions for everyone. The workers are the reason for the glowing and growing economy; sadly, they are the most overlooked and unheard of people who are often taken for granted by their recruiters, which needs to change anyhow.