Web Junkie

Web Junkie is a 2013 American-Israeli documentary film co-written, directed and produced by Hilla Medalia and Shosh Shlam.[1][2] The film premiered at the 2013 Jerusalem Film Festival on July 10, 2013.[3]

Web Junkie
Sundance film poster
Directed byHilla Medalia
Shosh Shlam
Produced byHilla Medalia
Shosh Shlam
Neta Zwebner-Zaibert
Written byHilla Medalia
Shosh Shlam
Music byRan Bagno
CinematographyShaoguang Sun
Edited byEnat Sidi
Production
company
Chicken And Egg Pictures
Impact Partners
Shlam Productions
Distributed byDogwoof Pictures
Release date
  • July 10, 2013 (2013-07-10) (Jerusalem Film Festival)
Running time
79 minutes
CountryIsrael
United States
LanguageEnglish

The film also premiered in-competition in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2014.[4]

After its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Dogwoof Pictures acquired the worldwide distribution rights of the film. The film will be broadcast in the UK at BBC Storyville, who has acquired the British TV rights of the film.[5][6][7]

Synopsis

The film focuses on the Chinese government's classification of internet addiction as a clinical disorder and focuses on the treatment used in Chinese rehabilitation centres.

Reception

Web Junkie received mostly positive reviews upon its premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 67% rating based on reviews from 6 critics, with an average score of 6.1/10.[8]

Dennis Harvey of Variety, wrote in his review that "A bizarre and entertaining documentary about China's attempts to reprogram its Internet-addicted youth."[9] Duane Byrge in his review for The Hollywood Reporter called the film "A startling look at China’s Internet addiction centers."[10] Drew Taylor from Indiewire praised the film by writing that "The specificity of the documentary...is one of its biggest strengths since it is able to place you right alongside these kids...But it also has the effect of being even more heartbreaking."[11] Dan Fienberg of HitFix gave the film grade B and wrote that "Web Junkie is a little sad, a little funny and a little scary. I'd say that I wish it had been a little more provocative, but I'm sure conversations after screenings will serve some of that purpose and those are conversations worth having."[12] In her review for The Telegraph, Amber Wilkinson praised the directors of the film that "Directors Shosh Shlam and Hilla Medalia get a remarkable amount of access to one of 400 rehabilitation camps set up in China."[13] However Dan Schindel of Movie Mezzanine criticized the film, writing that "What really undoes the film is its formlessness."[14]

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2013 Jerusalem Film Festival Honorable Mention Hilla Medalia and Shosh Shlam Nominated[3]
2014 Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary Hilla Medalia and Shosh Shlam Nominated

References
  1. "Behind "Web Junkie," a Documentary About China's Internet-Addicted Teens". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  2. "China's internet rehabs highlighted by Web Junkie documentary". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  3. "HILLA MEDALIA". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  4. "Sundance 2014: World Cinema Documentary Competition". Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  5. "Dogwoof acquires Web Junkie". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  6. "Sundance '14: BBC 'Storyville' acquires "Web Junkie"". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  7. "Dogwoof sells Web Junkie to BBC". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  8. "Web Junkie (2013)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  9. "Sundance Film Review: 'Web Junkie'". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  10. "Web Junkie: Sundance Review". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  11. "Sundance Review: Heartbreaking 'Web Junkie' A Look At The Chinese Health Crisis Of Internet Addiction". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  12. "Sundance Review: 'Web Junkie' explores Internet addiction in China". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  13. "Sundance 2014: Web Junkie, review". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  14. "SUNDANCE REVIEWS: 'LAND HO!,' 'WEB JUNKIE,' 'KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER,' 'IMPERIAL DREAMS,' 'RUDDERLESS'". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
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