Award-Winning Documentary, Director Coming To Colonial Theatre

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — The Colonial Theatre will host a special screening of an award winning documentary that examines virtual relationships and the phenonomon of Internet celebrities next month.

The director of the film "People's Republic of Desire," Hao Wu, will be in attendance to introduce the film and answer audience questions.

According to the theatre, the film examines the lives of two online stars who "rose from isolation to fame and fortune in China. The film takes the audience on a journey through live streaming showrooms, which have become virtual gathering places for hundreds of millions – from the super-rich who lavish performers with digital gifts, to poor migrant workers who worship them. The characters are brought together in a series of bizarre online idol competitions, where they discover that happiness in their virtual world may be as elusive as in the real one."

Wu, a former technology executive, said he wanted to look at how technology impacts human connection.

"Live streaming, China’s fastest-growing social medium and a growing phenomenon all over the world, is a prime example of the hyper evolution on the internet culture," Wu said in a release issued by the Colonial. "It allows me to look into technology’s impact on its users, especially the young generation who have come of age with the internet."

The film won the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary Feature at this year's South by Southwest Film Festival.

The screening with Wu will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. A traditional screening (without Wu) will take place on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. For ticket information, see here.

A trailer for the documentary is included below.

Images via Colonial Theatre