Broadcaster ARTE and filmmaker Wang Bing have released the second part of a documentary series titled "Jeunesse," focusing on young textile workers in China.

The series provides a critical look at the systemic exploitation of young labor in industrial hubs. By documenting the intersection of personal dreams and industrial pain, the work exposes the severe conditions facing a generation of workers who are often invisible to global consumers.

The second installment, titled "Les tourments," depicts the daily lives of young forced textile workers in the Zhili district [1, 2]. This industrial neighborhood, located near Shanghai, serves as the backdrop for the series as it tracks the workers' experiences over changing seasons [1, 2]. The narrative focuses on the collective stories of these individuals, highlighting how their working conditions become increasingly severe as time passes [1, 3].

Wang Bing uses the series to explore the psychological and physical toll of the textile industry. The documentary captures the struggle between the workers' personal aspirations and the rigid, often brutal, reality of the factory floor [1, 3].

The first episode of the series aired on Thursday, July 30, at 23:50 [3]. The documentary remains available for streaming until Sept. 5, 2026 [1].

The production emphasizes the cyclical nature of this labor, where youth is traded for industrial output in a region defined by its manufacturing density [1, 2]. The series serves as a visual record of the hardships endured in the Zhili district, contrasting the economic growth of the Shanghai periphery with the human cost of that production [1, 2].

“The series provides a critical look at the systemic exploitation of young labor in industrial hubs.”

This documentary brings international attention to the specific labor dynamics of the Zhili district, framing the textile industry not just as an economic engine for the Shanghai region, but as a site of forced labor and human rights concerns. By focusing on the 'tourments' or torments of the youth, the series challenges the narrative of voluntary industrial migration and highlights the vulnerability of young workers within China's manufacturing supply chain.