With a nod to the Italian Neo-Realist classic, Sixth Generation filmmaker Wang uses the story of a stolen bicycle poignantly to represent life in modern China. Guei arrives from his village to find Beijing a fast-paced city of tall buildings, wide streets and ancient, narrow alleys. Ecstatic with his job as a cycle courier, joy is short-lived after his shiny new bike is stolen. He searches for it only to find it in the possession of a schoolboy intent on impressing his friends. Winner of the Silver Bear at the 2001 Berlin Film Festival. ‘Beautiful cinematography, sledgehammer realism’ Village Voice, New York
Beijing Bicycle
Directed by Wang Xiaoshuai