BEIJING FLICKERS – The SLIFF 2013 Review

Review by Sam Moffitt

Yao Bao tells us at the beginning that he has not spoken in 127 days, then he proceeds to tell us why. The main reason being, after his girlfriend dumps him for a rich man he got drunk and tried to eat the glass. Somehow everyone in Beijing knows about this. He is also just depressed about life in general and most of his friends appear to be depressed as well. Among others we meet the members of a Chinese rock band, (not bad by the way), a transvestite, a cop on the take and several other denizens of the New China.

This is an excellent film and it shows how much things have changed in mainland China. This film could be set in Hong Kong, or Rome or Seattle, Washington for that matter. There is almost nothing traditionally “Chinese” about Beijing Flickers. But there is much about the human condition. Before its end we come to care very deeply about every one of its characters, even the ones who behave badly. This is a wonderful film, I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good story or who cares about people and their problems.

BEIJING FLICKERS plays Monday, November 18th at 4:30pm at The Plaza Frontenac Theater as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival

Ticket information can be found at Cinema St. Louis’ site HERE‘
http://www.cinemastlouis.org/beijing-flickers-0