Film Lens
Ayi follows a woman from rural Eastern China who has been cooking on the streets of Shanghai for twenty years without a residential permit. The film captures the impact of rapid urban modernization on her neighborhood, which is facing demolition. Ayi's story illustrates the conflict between urban development and the lives of marginalized individuals in the city.
As Shanghai aims to erase its informal economy, Ayi struggles to maintain her livelihood amid these changes. The documentary presents the human cost of progress in contemporary China, emphasizing the wider effects of urbanization on people like Ayi who are deemed 'substandard.'
Why Watch
- •Meet Ayi, a street cook in Shanghai's changing landscape.
- •Find out how urbanization affects informal economies.
- •See the impact of modernization on marginalized communities.
Did You Know
•Ayi has been cooking on the streets of Shanghai for 20 years.
•The film was released in 2020 and has a duration of 69 minutes.
•Ayi's neighborhood in Shanghai is facing demolition due to urban development.
Perfect For
Street food enthusiastsUrban development studiesContemporary China