Ren xiao yao (2002)

Director:

Zhang Ke Jia

Writer:

Zhang Ke Jia (writer)

Release Date:

22 January 2003 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Two unemployed Chinese teenagers have trouble resisting the temptations of the Western world.

Plot Keywords:

China | Youth | Urban Decay | Ennui | Hypodermic Needle

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Wei Wei Zhao	...	Bin Bin
Qiong Wu	...	Xiao Ji
Tao Zhao	...	Qiao Qiao
Qing Feng Zhou	...	Yuan Yuan
Hongwei Wang	...	Xiao Wu
Ru Bai	...	Bin Bin's mother
Xi An Liu	...	Xiao Ji's father
Shou Lin Xu	...	Sister Zhu
Ren Ai Jun	...	Hairdresser
Dao Xiao	...	Mr. Ren
Zi Ying	...	Concubine
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Zhubin Li	...	Qiao San
Ai Jun Ren	...	The Hairdresser
Limin Wang	...	The Karaoke Customer (as Wang Li Min)

Also Known As:

Ao no inazuma (Japan)
Plaisirs inconnus (France)
Unknown Pleasures (International: English title)

Runtime:

France:113 min (Cannes Film Festival) | Japan:112 min

Country:

South Korea | France | Japan | China

Language:

Mandarin | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:12A

Filming Locations:

Datong, Shanxi, China

Company:

E-Pictures

Trivia:

Mandarin title refers to a song by Richie Ren

Movie Connections:

References Xiao Wu (1997)

Indie Filmmaking with a Social Conscience

Unknown Pleasures is the first Jia Zhang Ke film that I have seen and it is excellent. The setting is a town in the north of China, but it could be anywhere in the developing world - India, Argentina or South Africa, for example - where neo liberal economic policies have benefitted the urban elite, but created dislocation for millions of others. The director undoubtedly has a deep social conscience.

The film focuses on several young people, members of China's "new new" generation. As the films progresses, we see what the new world order offers them - US currency, American pop culture, the 2008 Olympics, new super highways - contrasted with the reality - few opportunities for young people, laid off state factory workers and a general degradation of moral values. The message is clear: the new world order offers common people everything in return for giving up traditional ways of life, but actually delivers little of substance. As Bin Bin puts it when he finds out that his girlfriend is going to Beijing to study international trade: "WTO is nothing. Just a trick to make some cash."

The social realist style - it has a bit of a documentary look to it - and the pop song which the film is named after and which features prominently in it (Ren Xiao Yao - the lyrics speak about youth alienation, particularly a desire for freedom and pleasure) also provide a cutting edge look and feel. The song is emotive and will strike a chord with those who like explorations of youth alienation.

However, the film, as befits the political and artistic climate in China, is very subtle and understated, and may escape those who have little knowledge of current affairs in China or an insensitivity to the economic and social dislocation that is taking place outside the big cities (this is not a good date movie for the corporate Western expat and his urban Chinese girlfriend who measure progress by the number of new condos and Western restaurants in Shanghai).

This is great indie filmmaking, though, and I would particularly recommend it to socially and politically aware twenty and thirtysomethings who like artistic expression that is intelligent, socially conscientious and cutting edge.