Documentaries have the potential to reveal truth and transform our understanding of the controversial. So, why not use them as insight into one of the most complex societies of the 21st century? China holds a whirlwind of rich history and continues to face a wide range of contemporary issues – whether economical, environmental or social. The following films provide candid depictions of both rural and city-life in modern China, discussing the notion of national identity in the face of adversity.