Drifters

B+

Directed by Wang Xiaoshui

"Drifters," directed by Wang Xiaoshui, best known for his superb "Beijing Bicycle," contains many of the elements he has come to be associated with, casting a sympathetic look on the lives of Chinese who have slipped through the cracks during their country's rise towards economic prosperity. Unlike some of Wang's better work, however, "Drifters" suffers rather seriously from a lack of editing as well as certain lapses in directorial judgment but the overall effort is commendable, if not groundbreaking.

"Drifters" follows Hong Yungsheng, a jobless, unmotivated resident of a village in Fujian Province who has garnered something of a local cult status due to his success in stowing away to America twice, only to be caught and returned both times. On his latest illegal voyage to the Land of Liberty, Hong produced an illegitimate offspring with a local girl who had also made her way to the U.S. Now back in China, Hong learns that his son, who is now under the guardianship of the parents of the child's mother, is back in Fujian. The rest of the film follows his efforts to reconnect with his son, against the wishes of the child's grandparents who want nothing to do with Hong, as well as Hong's growing relationship with a singer from a traveling opera troupe.

"Drifters" is extremely effective as a sketch of proletariat ennui in provincial China as well as a statement on the importance of personal connections in an increasingly disconnected world. Hong's aimlessness and hopelessness for a better life are quite palpable, as is his wish to reconnect with his son, a desire that comes to give him meaning in his otherwise disappointed life, and the empathy viewers are encouraged to feel for Hong's plight comes easily. As a commentary on the state of the Chinese population, "Drifters" is also quite remarkable in the sense that it is a surprisingly strident screed against the lack of opportunities for many Chinese people despite the rapid advances of their society. The disconnect between the country's progress and the continuing poverty of much of its population is ironically underscored by Wang in his frequent introduction of radio and television broadcasts announcing China's imminent admission to the WTO even as Hong and his family struggle to find anything worthwhile or profitable to do with their time. The portrayal of Chinese working life as dull, pointless, and ultimately failing to provide a brighter future, is a sharp contrast with the dynamic economic juggernaut China sells itself as to the rest of the world.

Although Wang's portrayal of working life in China is perhaps harsh, he nonetheless captures a feeling that is prevalent in many developing countries, namely that many individuals don't feel that progress will reach their generation in time for them to enjoy a better standard of living than what they are already accustomed to. As a result, many individuals do as Hong did and attempt to better their lot abroad.

Although "Drifters" is a thoughtful and generally effective meditation on the plight of China's working class, Wang's film is significantly hampered by its length as well as its lack of focused editing. Wang isn't a director who, unlike some, does not simply refuses to edit his work since "Beijing Bicycle," as I remember it at least, was quite well edited despite its languid pace. "Drifters" 'drifts' on (har har) for far too long, its running time bloated by a number of scenes that could have been significantly shortened or simply tossed away. The minimalist story Wang wants to tell is not enhanced by "Drifters" lengthy running time which, rather unfortunately, ends up testing the viewers patience more than anything else.