(Shows) the increasing and corrosive role that capitalism plays in modern China.
Just as with "Summer Palace," the end result unfortunately doesn´t justify the professional setbacks some of the filmmakers suffered. "Lost in Beijing" is far more effective as a screwball (or, in this case, screwed-up) comedy than as a sexual-political commentary. Leung is particularly amusing as he transforms from the hard-edged boss to doting father-to-be. He and Elaine Jin dominate the film even though the younger spouses are the protagonists. Kun is a fey presence in the film, vacillating between wimp and scheming wimp while the lovely Ping-guo largely plays the passive role of object of desire for both men.
As we often see in recent Chinese films, one of the dominant themes is the increasing and corrosive role that capitalism plays in modern China. Everything is for sale from foot massages to women´s bodies to freshly minted babies. But it´s nothing we haven´t seen a dozen times before not only in Chinese films but also in recent Eastern European movies with the brilliant "Four Months, Three Weeks, Two Days" (2007) providing a much more coherent commentary on capitalism´s all-encompassing power.
The constantly roaming hand-held camera lends an air of intimacy and immediacy to the film, though it can also prove a nuisance in the more crowded scenes and produces some underwhelming cityscape shots.
"Lost in Beijing" isn´t nearly as shocking as it tries to be, and the modest success of some of the comic elements don´t compensate for the film´s lack of substance. It´s certainly not a bad film, but it´s not particularly memorable either.
Video
The film is presented in a 1.78:1 enhanced anamorphic transfer. Unlike New Yorker´s other recent release "The Willow Tree" the image quality is strong. The colors are a bit muted, as is usually the case with this studio, but overall I have no major complaints.
Audio
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital Stereo. Forced English subtitles support the Mandarin audio.
Extras
None on the DVD except for a trailer.
The slim insert booklet provides an interview with the director, and an article about the film´s censorship challenges by Grady Hendrix.
Film Value
In olden days, a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking but now, God knows, T&A goes. The blunt sexual politics of "Lost in Beijing" do not shock or provoke. We get the point early on, and while the complex cross-pollution of relationships between the two couples produces some laughs at first, it quickly grows tiresome. Perhaps if An Kun and Ping-guo were more substantial and engaging characters, the film would be more potent. As it is, we have to settle for strong performances from the veteran portion of the cast and call it a day.
As we often see in recent Chinese films, one of the dominant themes is the increasing and corrosive role that capitalism plays in modern China. Everything is for sale from foot massages to women´s bodies to freshly minted babies. But it´s nothing we haven´t seen a dozen times before not only in Chinese films but also in recent Eastern European movies with the brilliant "Four Months, Three Weeks, Two Days" (2007) providing a much more coherent commentary on capitalism´s all-encompassing power.
The constantly roaming hand-held camera lends an air of intimacy and immediacy to the film, though it can also prove a nuisance in the more crowded scenes and produces some underwhelming cityscape shots.
"Lost in Beijing" isn´t nearly as shocking as it tries to be, and the modest success of some of the comic elements don´t compensate for the film´s lack of substance. It´s certainly not a bad film, but it´s not particularly memorable either.
Video
The film is presented in a 1.78:1 enhanced anamorphic transfer. Unlike New Yorker´s other recent release "The Willow Tree" the image quality is strong. The colors are a bit muted, as is usually the case with this studio, but overall I have no major complaints.
Audio
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital Stereo. Forced English subtitles support the Mandarin audio.
Extras
None on the DVD except for a trailer.
The slim insert booklet provides an interview with the director, and an article about the film´s censorship challenges by Grady Hendrix.
Film Value
In olden days, a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking but now, God knows, T&A goes. The blunt sexual politics of "Lost in Beijing" do not shock or provoke. We get the point early on, and while the complex cross-pollution of relationships between the two couples produces some laughs at first, it quickly grows tiresome. Perhaps if An Kun and Ping-guo were more substantial and engaging characters, the film would be more potent. As it is, we have to settle for strong performances from the veteran portion of the cast and call it a day.
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[release]24078[/release]