Synopsis
Observations of three varied corners of China’s garment industry: workers in a large-scale production line factory; a designer who rallies against the mass-machine-production of clothes and has created the eponymous hand-made collection called ‘Useless’ (Wuyong) for Paris Fashion Week; and finally the simple life of increasingly out-of-work tailors in small town Fengdang.
Useless (2008) is a 1h 24min documentary feature film by Jia Zhangke. Observations of three varied corners of China’s garment industry: workers in a large-scale production line factory;...
Key facts
Cast
Ma Ke
Original language
Cantonese
First release
February 6, 2008 (France)
Crew
Producer
Nelson Yu Lik-wai, Zhao Tao
Cinematography
Jia Zhangke, Nelson Yu Lik-wai
Editing
Zhang Jia
Music
Lim Giong
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- Sydney Film Festival 2026 generic - Sartorial: Fashion on Film
- International Film Festival Rotterdam 2008 generic
- Indiewire Critics' Poll 2007 generic
- Venice Film Festival 2007 generic
- Village Voice Film Poll 2007 generic
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | France | February 6, 2008 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | May 22, 2008 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | January 16, 2009 |
Full credits
| Director | Jia Zhangke |
| Cast | Ma Ke (Self) |
| Producer | Nelson Yu Lik-wai, Zhao Tao |
| Executive producer | Chow Keung, Kang Jianmin, Mao Jihong |
| Cinematography | Jia Zhangke, Nelson Yu Lik-wai |
| Editing | Zhang Jia |
| Music | Lim Giong |
| Sound | Zhang Yang |
Additional data: TMDB.
