In the early 1980’s, China was just emerging from the repressive Cultural Revolution which very nearly stamped out much Chinese classical and folk music--three thousand year-old traditions. Cautiously, musicians, singers, composers and conductors were re-emerging, returning from exile and beginning to revive some of the suppressed music, all under the vigilant gaze of suspicious government officials. Into this moment of regeneration came director Jeremy Marre on a quest to capture the true musical traditions of China. Constantly battling to avoid the dull “official” musical ensembles he traveled to Shanghai, Beijing, and the Islamic, far northwestern region of Xinjian. “Cotton Mill Shanghai Blues” is a thought-provoking documentary of a dormant, ancient musical culture finally re-emerging.

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