Welcome to Independent Lens.
I'm Pete Schwaba, host of Wisconsin Public Television's
Director's Cut.
Tonight, we bring you a film
that's been called a modern day Wizard of Oz.
The documentary People's Republic of Desire
tells the story of an entire generation in China
that have been raised on social media.
People's Republic of Desire follows three characters--
a singer, a comedian, and a migrant worker
as they seek fame and fortune through live streaming.
The story builds toward an online competition where
the rich can buy unlimited votes
for their favorite performers.
Some of the visuals are absolutely mesmerizing,
as director Hao Wu's characters
navigate their virtual existence
at the expense of real-life human relationships.
Wu's film has been called 'provocative and unsettling'
by Variety magazine.
This is not Wu's first project that focuses on
the idea of fame in his native China.
His second film was titled The Road to Fame .
People's Republic of Desire
is the third feature-length documentary Wu has directed
and it starts now
on Wisconsin Public Television,
your home for independent film.