The Land of Peach Blossoms (Shi Wai Tao Yuan)

One of the skyscrapers in the Chinese city of Chongqing houses a unique restaurant. The diners at the big round table become part of a spectacular show featuring dance and martial arts, inspired by old traditions and contemporary patriotism. Behind the scenes, the company’s founder and authoritarian leader, a bored-looking chain smoker, imposes a strict collectivism. Personal opinions are forbidden, while thinking and behaving like the Leader is the ideal. Self-criticism is a frequently performed ritual.

The Land of Peach Blossoms follows life in the company over several months and shows ...