Before Qianmen: Life in Old Beijing

A giant backhoe putters into the slim alleyway of a hutong, and the camera's eye presses tightly up against the thick black tires of heavy construction equipment. In the background stand a few remaining inhabitants. This is the opening shot of the documentary, "Before Qianmen." The scene is uncannily serene with the arrival of the film's villains and the tenor of the film is set – a steady portrait on the experience of relocation and dislocation.