It’s all so tiresome. The movie behind the meme is about exasperation. It captures how we feel today about the predictably destructive third world behavior of the left.
Empire of Dust is a masterpiece documentary about culture clashes between civilizations. Some men want to build. Some men want to do just enough to get by. Some men just want to watch the world burn. And some memes are universal.
In 2010 as part of One Belt One Road colonialism, China signed an agreement with Congo to build infrastructure in exchange for mining concessions. The film follows the workers of China Railway Engineering Company (CREC) as they construct a road. Two billion African and Chinese people comprise a quarter of the world’s population, but this is one of the few glimpses into how they think and interact. The stars are the Chinese head of logistics Yang and his Congolese interpreter Eddy, who can speak Chinese, French, English, and Swahili. They are the ultimate odd couple, like Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in Rush Hour but for unintentional dark humor.
Yang and Eddy set off on what should be a simple mission - acquire the gravel needed to pave the road. In south Congo, that becomes a Kafka-esque tragicomedy. We see how painfully difficult their micro move on the macro geopolitical chessboard is.
Laborers can’t be relied upon to show up. Some steal equipment. Local entrepreneurs are flaky and stubborn in negotiations. Most can’t fulfill the orders properly. Yang and his fellow lao bai xing (Chinese equivalent of blue collar average joes) have thousand-yard stares as they wonder how they got themselves into this Sisyphean situation. They banter about the absurdities with blunt truths, unshackled from Western woke political correctness.
The mimetic moment arrives halfway through the film. After witnessing yet another catastrophe of human errors, Yang sighs heavily. In Chinese, he mutters: “这事真难搞啊 - zhe ge shi hen nan gao”.
The literal meaning is “This issue is really hard to resolve.”
However, the movie’s editors made meme magic by translating it as “It’s all so tiresome”.
The documentary has no music or voiceovers. Stark aesthetics provide all the social commentary we need. Dust flies everywhere, providing a natural filter the camera. Yang, Eddy, and the cameraman are constantly jolted by potholes as they drive from one fruitless pursuit to another. Poverty and demoralization are ubiquitous. In a moment of levity, Yang expresses frustration when his tape measure breaks. Eddy points out that it was made in China.
The ending provides a harsh, relatable contrast between the fake and real. A charismatic politician who looks and sounds like Obama gives a speech promising that the road will bring his people prosperity. He pumps up bread and circuses, pledging that power will be dependable enough to watch the upcoming World Cup games. The ceremony concludes with a jubilant crowd cheering him on as he drives construction equipment for a photo op. Meanwhile, Yang and Eddy are back in their bleak camp having a frank conversation on why nothing is getting done.
Lao Yang is the modern day based Confucius. HR would fire him for his candor if he worked for a Western corporation. Eddy takes it all in stride: “You might get the impression that he’s grumpy, but that’s just the way he talks.”
Here are some of Yang’s greatest hits:
Look at your railways. High technology from the 1930s. We didn’t have it in China back then. You neglected the things others had left you. What’s more, you completely destroyed them. It will take generations to put things right.
They first constructed this road in 1954. More than 50 years ago. Since the Belgians built it you guys did nothing to maintain it. Unbelievable. You can’t imagine the effort it took to built it. The infrastructure has gone to waste. It hurts to see it.
You were governed by a European country for so long. You should have learned how things work. Experience should be passed on. Only that way can you develop. You went backwards instead of forwards.
With regards to money we Chinese differ from the Congolese, who learned from the Belgians. Money or not, they spend it. No stress. On pay day the men go crazy. Two days later they come asking to loan them money. They don’t hold their drink that well. They just like drinking. They stand at the bar drinking beer. And then start shaking their behinds. It’s wonderful.
The government here isn’t efficient. We’ve been negotiating with them since the New Year. Half a year of talking without any results.
People here don’t have any sense of time. It’s hard to adapt to life here. They waste time in almost everything they do. So we go back and forth.
I feel sorry for them. But sometimes I also hate them. Especially the thieves. They steal fuel and act all innocent.
The full hour-long documentary is worth a watch:
Perhaps the “Empire of Dust” sequels should be made in America in places like California, New York, and Baltimore:
I use the ”it’s all so tiresome” quote frequently. It’s perfect for what we endure everyday in NYC. I don’t use it as much when I’m in Florida.
Glad to be re-subscribed. We do not have problems like this in Ukraine. They are scheduled to arrive when we join the European Union.
Corruption - abundant. But people at least know how to get things done.