Beijing Bicycle - Mandarin Film: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR BEIJING BICYCLE - MANDARIN...

The Hyderabad Film Club is screening a Mandarin film, Beijing Bicycle (Shiqi Sui De Dan Che), on December 22 at the Sri Sarathi Studios Preview Theatre, Ameerpet. Directed by Wang Xiaoshuai, the film runs for 113 minutes. It has Cui Lin and Li Bin (winners of the New Talent Award), Zhou Xun, Gao Yuanyuan and Li Shunag playing the central characters in it.

The movie won the Jury Grand Prix at the Berlin International Film Festival, and was nominated at the Golden Satellite Award and the Silver Screen Award functions. It premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2001. However, it was subsequently banned in its homeland, China, because of the way it dealt with prevailing socio-economic conditions. The ban was eventually lifted in 2004.

The film revolves around Guei, a 17-year-old boy from the countryside, who comes to Beijing in search of a job. He finds employment at a courier company, which issues him a brand-new bicycle to use during his deliveries.

Just as he earns enough money to buy it from his boss, the bicycle goes missing. The stubborn Guei goes on a search for his stolen bicycle and finds it in the possession of another teenager named Jian, who claims he bought it at a flea market as a ticket to the teen world - to impress Xiao, a girl he fancies, and his pals.

The ensuing battle of wills between the two young men brings more than just the ownership of the bicycle into question as it explores the world of the youth and several socio-economic issues.

Entry is free for members of the Hyderabad Film Club. Please contact Bh S S Prakash Reddy, at 2373-0841 for further details.