Doors 7:30p
Program 8:00p
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May 4, 2025 at 7:30 pm
People’s Republic of Desire
A film by Hao Wu
UnionDocs
352 Onderdonk Ave
Ridgewood, NY
We’re thrilled to co-present a special evening of film and conversation with Nooks & Crannies NYC (犄角旮旯放映厅)! Come through and tune into People’s Republic of Desire by Hao Wu — a deep dive into the strange and seductive world of digital fame, loneliness, and longing at the onset of China’s explosive livestreaming boom.
What happens when an entire generation comes of age online? In People’s Republic of Desire — winner of the Grand Jury Award (Documentary) at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival — director Hao Wu takes us inside the surreal world of China’s livestreaming economy, where young performers compete nightly for attention, adoration, and staggering sums of money — not on a stage, but in digital showrooms watched by tens of thousands of viewers.
The documentary follows a karaoke singer, a talk show host, and a migrant worker as they search for fame, fortune, and human connection in these virtual spaces. It exposes a system where popularity can be bought, love is often transactional, and the richest fans control the spotlight.
“A contemplation of internet fame and social isolation.” – The New York Times
“Tragic and terrifying in equal measure.” – IndieWire
“Yes, Black Mirror is already here.” – Ars Technica
Layered with intimate portraits of families, talent managers, and the moneyed elite behind the scenes, the film offers a poignant and provocative look at what happens when technology becomes the primary medium for emotional connection — and what that means for our shared sense of reality.
Following the screening, there will be a conversation and Q&A with the film’s director, Hao Wu, hosted by Dawei, the curator of the series.
Program
People’s Republic of Desire
95min, 2018, China
China’s super-rich and dirt-poor never cross paths in real life, yet in popular virtual showrooms, they come together to worship their favorite online stars. In this digital universe where everything seems possible, a karaoke singer, a poor migrant worker, and a rags-to-riches comedian all seek fame, fortune, and human connection. However, they find the same promises and perils online as they do in their real lives.
Program Duration: 95 mins
Watch the conversation between Presenter1, Presenter2 and Presenter 3 on the UnionDocs’ Membership hub.
Bios
Hao Wu’s documentary films have received funding support from The Ford Foundation JustFilms, ITVS, Sundance Institute, Tribeca Film Institute, and NYSCA, and have been distributed through Netflix, Amazon Prime, Paramount Plus, PBS, BBC, and others. Besides People’s Republic of Desire, his select works include: All in My Family, a Netflix Original Documentary short; 76 Days, a New York Times Critic’s Pick, Academy Award shortlist, and winner of a Peabody Award and a Primetime Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking. Wu’s latest feature, Admissions Granted, was distributed by MSNBC Films in 2024.
Born and raised in China, Wu is a Chengdu No.7 High School alumnus. Wu holds an M.Sc. degree from Brandeis University and an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. From 2014–2016, he was a fellow at New America, a D.C.-based think tank. He is a member of the Documentary branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
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