Film Review: Beijing Bicycle

Shot in and around Beijing, this tale tells the story of a young migrant worker, who gets himself hired as a bicycle messenger boy, cycling, DHL style, packages and small deliveries around the bustling metropolis. A major incentive is the promise from his employer that upon reaching a certain number of deliveries, ownership of the bike – a sturdy, multi-geared mountain bike variety and an object of desire – turns to him.

In a neat commentary of today’s grab for riches however, and the mistreatment of peasants by the rich, just as he is about to take possession of his bike – it gets stolen. Now unable to perform his job, and having being sacked by his employer, he begins a late night stealth examination of Beijing’s evening bicycle parks to try and locate his bike. After weeks of searching – he eventually finds it and steals it back. One day though, he runs into the wealthy, spoiled son of a government official who had originally stolen it, and a game of cat and mouse, of accusations and counter-accusations begin, even to the extent of one boy having the bike one day, the other the next as a ‘face saving’ exercise. Ultimately parodying the exploitation of China’s masses by the new rich, this film, although flawed, is a timely observation of China’s society ills and the growing gap between rich and poor. It is also itself a remarkable achievement and shows that despite the intellectual purges that have damaged China so much – a resurgence of true values is starting to emerge in China and that morality is often to be found most in those least privileged. CE

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