Beijing Bicycle (PG-13, 2001)

Guei (Cui Lin), a poor country boy on the outskirts of present-day Beijing, works hard to earn enough to own the bicycle he rides for his delivery job. Just as he is just about to reach his goal, his bike is stolen. Guei searches tirelessly for it throughout the entire city. On the other side of town, Jian (Li Bin), a teenager about the same age as Guei, has a new bicycle which helps him win the affections of Xiao (Gao Yuanyuan). Meanwhile, Guei finally stumbles upon his missing two-wheeler and tries to retrieve it from a bike rack but a guard stops him. Guei somehow traces the bike to Jian, and seizes it. Jian gives chase, and what ensues are a series of incidents in which Guei and Jian steal the bike back and forth from each other, with Guei subjected to continuous brutal beatings by Jian and his gang. Eventually, after endless struggles, the boys agree to share, but further complications arise.

To American audiences, Beijing Bicycle may seem like a lot of pointless fights and hand-wringing over a common and easily-replaceable object. To understand the deeper meaning of the bicycle, viewers need to understand that in China, ownership of a bicycle is (or at least was) a sign of prosperity and resourcefulness and is a key mode of transportation. For the film's characters, the bicycle was equivalent to a first love. It filled their desires and needs, and it made them feel more mature and in control.

The problem with this movie is that the symbolism probably does not translate across cultures. American viewers, who are used to automobiles as the principal mode of transportation, are unlikely to feel the way that Jian or Guei feel for the bike. The two main characters in this movie did a very convincing job. Viewers will feel empathy for Guei, because actor Cui plays him as hard-working and as a fundamentally good person. Li Bin was very believable as the immature, self-centered, and dishonest Jian.

Studio: Sony Pictures
Director: Wang Xiaoshuai
Cast: Cui Lin, Lee Bin, Xun Zhou
Genre: Drama
Run time: 113 minutes
Theatrical release: January 1, 2001
DVD release: July 9, 2002
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: some violence and brief nudity.