In a declining mining town, the daily quota for miners increases as their wages decrease. Safety measures fall short of standards but there is no sign of improvement. Workers have no choice but to leave the mines. The young have left the town leaving only the elderly and children behind, and the town becomes more and more dilapidated day by day. But the Beijing Olympics bring in relentless development around the area, and although the mining community is given the opportunity to move into those areas, it holds no meaning for them. [The New Castle] has slow rhythm to the story. Unlike most documentaries dealing with undifferentiated development and the sacrifice of individuals and local communities, there is no sense of criticism or aggression. As the camera silently follows workers and residents who are concerned with making a living, this documentary conveys power and the sensation of a drama. As uniform, modern buildings replace the town’s simple beauty, a future promised by The New Castle approaches us like a mirage. (CHO Young-jung)