Ascension

Ascension (2021) is an observational documentary you can watch online on iFILM, directed by Jessica Kingdon. Shot over three years in China, 97 minutes, almost no dialogue — no voiceover, no talking heads.

Kingdon moves from factory assembly lines to salesmanship boot camps to luxury pet grooming services, cataloguing the working machinery of the "Chinese Dream." The camera lingers on hands sorting components, mouths reciting productivity slogans, bodies moving through spaces designed for maximum output. The film takes no explicit position; it doesn't need to. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 94th ceremony in 2022.

Stream Ascension online on iFILM.