Synopsis

Beijing today. Guei has just arrived from his village. He is 16. He finds work with a delivery service that cleans him up, clothes him, and lends him a bicycle: a magnificent silver mountain bike. The company pays well, but Guei must pay part of the money back to buy the bicycle on which he spends the better part of his days. One day when Guei has almost finished paying for it, the bicycle disappears, stolen from in front of a building where he is delivering a package. Without his bicycle, Guei no longer has a job. So he runs all over Beijing in search of his bicycle. But when, miraculously, Xiao Guei finds it, Jian is riding it. All he needs to do is steal his own bicycle back, but Jian doesn't see things the same way. He bought this bicycle at the flea market. They will just have to learn to share...

Cast

Guei: Cui Lin
Jian: Li Bin
Qin: Zhou Xun
Xiao: Gao Yuanyuan
Da Huan: Li Shuang
Jian's father: Zhao Yiwei
The mother: Pang Yan
Rong: Zhou Fangfei
The boss: Xie Jian
The accountant: Ma Yuhong
Mantis: Liu Lei
Qui Sheng: Li Mengnan
The students: Li Jian, Zhang Yang, Wang Yuzhong, Hui Wei
The messengers: Ji Hua, Ren Hougang, Zhang Yu
The students (girls): Zhang Lei, Chang Jiayin, Wang Yann

Crew

Director: Wang Xiaoshuai
Screenplay and dialogues: Wang Xiaoshuai, Tang Danian, Peggy Chiao, Hsu Hsiao-Ming
Photography: Liu Jie
Sound: Tu Duu-Chih
Editing: Liao Ching-Song
Sets: Wang Wenjun
Music: Wang Feng
Costumes: Pang Yan
Art directors: Tsai Chiao-Yin, Cao Anjun
Producers: Peggy Chiao, Hsu Hsiao-Ming, Han Sanping
Line producer: Hsu Bing-His
Associate producer: Fabienne Vonier
Coproducers: Michael Chiao, Shi Donog-Ming
Coordinating producers: Eric Lagesse, Anne Devauchelle, Zhang Xia

Production information

Arc Light Films, Pyramide Productions

Technical information

France - China
Year of production : 2000
Length : 113mn

Festivals and awards

Official Selection Berlin Film Festival 2001 - Competition : Jury Grand Prize - Silver Bear, Piper Heidsieck New Talent Award for the best young actor (Cui Lin & Li Bin)