Film Lens
Crude Oil is a 2008 documentary directed by Wang Bing, filmed in the Inner Mongolian portion of the Gobi Desert. It follows a group of oil field workers as they perform their daily tasks. The film runs for 840 minutes, making it one of the longest documentaries, and was initially planned to be 70 hours long before Wang decided to reduce the length for editorial control.
The film premiered at the 2008 International Film Festival Rotterdam and received a NETPAC 'Special Mention' for its portrayal of the hardships faced by laborers contributing to economic progress. Wang Bing left the shoot early due to severe altitude sickness, and the crew completed the filming without him. The film had its Asian premiere at the 2008 Hong Kong International Film Festival and was later screened in North America at The Los Angeles Film Festival in June 2009.
Why Watch
- •See the daily life of oil field workers in Inner Mongolia.
- •Find out why the film was reduced from 70 hours to 840 minutes.
- •Meet director Wang Bing and his unique filming challenges.
Did You Know
•Crude Oil runs for 840 minutes, making it one of the longest films.
•Wang Bing initially planned for the film to be 70 hours long.
•The film premiered at the 2008 International Film Festival Rotterdam.
•Wang Bing left the shoot after three days due to altitude sickness.
Perfect For
Documentary enthusiastsLabor studiesChinese cinema fans