China - Land zwischen gestern und morgen(1957)

Through three loosely connected stories centered on individuals, Huisken and Menegoz depict the changes in urban and rural areas as well as the development of remote regions. A traveling tinker from Old Beijing observes the industrialization taking place around him. A young couple from the village of Minh Tu Sian harvests rice using traditional methods but is already celebrating their wedding in a modern way. Engineering graduate Tschao Lin travels to Shanghai by ship up the Yangtze River to help build a railway line. In the finale, a difficult stage—bridging the wild river—is completed.