I think I first watched this film about 13 years ago when it first released on DVD and recently I watched the censored version available in China. When I first saw this movie I was young and had no clue about any of the people involved. I was blown away by how gritty and captivating the narrative was. Now, older and more knowledgeable, I recognize the big name actors involved, like Zhou Xun, and I can pick up on the subtle criticism the director had for the growing materialism in China. It’s almost surprising that the movie was made at all.
This is an amazing film about pride, status, love, and natural selection in the city, all because of a single bicycle.
© 2001 - Sony Pictures Classics