Slinkys, Pet Rocks, Ant Farms. Behind each of those great novelties is the story of a great Novelty Inventor. 'Made In China' is the story of one such inventor. Johnson, a self-styled novelty inventor from a small town in East Texas, is determined to bring his big idea -- "a humorous domestic hygiene product" -- to the world. Johnson's journey takes him to the Mecca of the novelty world: China, where anything is possible and everything has its price. Lost in the backstreets of Shanghai, Johnson discovers that it takes more than a million dollar idea to make it to the big time. It takes guts, determination, and a fist full of sneezing powder.The film also earned a special jury award called the SXSW/Chicken & Egg Emergent Woman Award. Dammit, I'm really bummed I didn't get to catch the film at its world premiere in Austin last weekend. (My panel was happening at the same time as the screening.) I'll have to catch it another time.
Here's an indieWIRE interview with director Judith Krant: SXSW Interview: "Made in China" Director Judi Krant. Here's a short review of the film in the Austin Chronicle: Made in China. And for more information, view the movie's official site here.
