This review originally appeared on the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation’s “Roll Film” movie review site (http://www.biketraffic.org/content.php?id=219_0_6_0). Each film was also reviewed by my CBF colleague, Greg Borzo, who focused more on the bike content.
BEIJING BICYCLE
2 Wheels
In Beijing, there are traffic signals that flash green or red in the shape of a bicycle. This is only one of the signs that we're not in Kansas anymore. Bikes of all shapes and sizes fill the streets and alleyways. They share the streets with cars as equals. They are parked in racks by the hundreds. In terms of sheer quantity, Beijing Bicycle may be the ultimate bicycle movie.
What's good about Beijing Bicycle mostly occurs within the first half hour. Here we see a city both familiar and yet truly foreign. Overcrowded and bustling, it seems modern and ancient simultaneously. It's difficult to say if a Chinese audience would be as taken by director, Xiaoshuai Wang's, portrayal of their native land, but to these Western eyes, Beijing is the most interesting character in the film.
Unfortunately, at some point, after getting used to the exotic locale, we have to start following the film's goofy plot. Country boy, Guo, has just moved to the big city where he gets a job as a bike courier. He's a hard worker, but his initial wages are all set aside to pay for his company-provided bicycle. The bike is stolen and, by this time, the film has become a virtual remake of Vittorio De Sica's seminal classic, The Bicycle Thief.
The key difference between Beijing Bicycle and the earlier Italian film is that we follow the story of the thief as well. (Actually, it's left a bit ambiguous whether he's a real thief or not.) Jian is a middle class city kid who "acquires" Guo's bike to impress the local beauty, who has a thing for cyclists. These two guys, both in their late teens, start a battle of wills over this bicycle. Now here's the goofy part: much of the film is occupied with this bike changing hands about five or six times.
Beyond that, they're both none-too-bright and whiny. Jian throws tantrums because his parents seem to favor his younger sister, while Guo's strategy for laying claim to the bike is holding onto it and screaming. Meanwhile, the girl who's begun to occupy both their attentions falls in with a local punk who can do fancy bike tricks. With these three jokers going after her, it's surprising she doesn't ride her bike off to another province.
Since Beijing Bicycle wants to be The Bicycle Thief, it's instructive to note how the latter succeeds where the former fails. In The Bicycle Thief, there is a true sense of urgency as the protagonist cares for his wife and son. The stolen bike is a real catastrophe that could mean starvation for him and his family. In Beijing Bicycle, the stolen bike represents a loss, but the stakes are lower. Guo's courier job is important to him, but it's not his only option, and the bike will only get Jian so far in his love life.
Despite all this, Beijing Bicycle is not unwatchable. It's just flatfooted and The Bicycle Thief allusions are so blatant that you may as well skip the middle man and see the original instead.
BEIJING BICYCLE
2 Wheels
In Beijing, there are traffic signals that flash green or red in the shape of a bicycle. This is only one of the signs that we're not in Kansas anymore. Bikes of all shapes and sizes fill the streets and alleyways. They share the streets with cars as equals. They are parked in racks by the hundreds. In terms of sheer quantity, Beijing Bicycle may be the ultimate bicycle movie.
What's good about Beijing Bicycle mostly occurs within the first half hour. Here we see a city both familiar and yet truly foreign. Overcrowded and bustling, it seems modern and ancient simultaneously. It's difficult to say if a Chinese audience would be as taken by director, Xiaoshuai Wang's, portrayal of their native land, but to these Western eyes, Beijing is the most interesting character in the film.
Unfortunately, at some point, after getting used to the exotic locale, we have to start following the film's goofy plot. Country boy, Guo, has just moved to the big city where he gets a job as a bike courier. He's a hard worker, but his initial wages are all set aside to pay for his company-provided bicycle. The bike is stolen and, by this time, the film has become a virtual remake of Vittorio De Sica's seminal classic, The Bicycle Thief.
The key difference between Beijing Bicycle and the earlier Italian film is that we follow the story of the thief as well. (Actually, it's left a bit ambiguous whether he's a real thief or not.) Jian is a middle class city kid who "acquires" Guo's bike to impress the local beauty, who has a thing for cyclists. These two guys, both in their late teens, start a battle of wills over this bicycle. Now here's the goofy part: much of the film is occupied with this bike changing hands about five or six times.
Beyond that, they're both none-too-bright and whiny. Jian throws tantrums because his parents seem to favor his younger sister, while Guo's strategy for laying claim to the bike is holding onto it and screaming. Meanwhile, the girl who's begun to occupy both their attentions falls in with a local punk who can do fancy bike tricks. With these three jokers going after her, it's surprising she doesn't ride her bike off to another province.
Since Beijing Bicycle wants to be The Bicycle Thief, it's instructive to note how the latter succeeds where the former fails. In The Bicycle Thief, there is a true sense of urgency as the protagonist cares for his wife and son. The stolen bike is a real catastrophe that could mean starvation for him and his family. In Beijing Bicycle, the stolen bike represents a loss, but the stakes are lower. Guo's courier job is important to him, but it's not his only option, and the bike will only get Jian so far in his love life.
Despite all this, Beijing Bicycle is not unwatchable. It's just flatfooted and The Bicycle Thief allusions are so blatant that you may as well skip the middle man and see the original instead.
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