Visualising the Global City in China’s Sixth Generation Cinema

Texts examined:

• The World ［世界］ (2004) - Jia Zhang-ke
  Full Movie with English subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AERTp5iE0DY 

I found The World to be a very interesting and intriguing film as it focuses on the mundane and everyday aspects of life in a ‘globalising’ China – turns out to be a key feature of the early Sixth Generation films. Though the plot may be a little convoluted at times, there was much to like about the film. The cinematography was very impressive. Regarding the plot, I was particularly fascinated by the relationship between Tao (Chinese) and Anna (Russian). I think this relationship is significant in that it sheds light on how globalization has affected China on many different levels.

Although both characters can’t speak each other’s native languages, communication between the two still takes place – at one stage, they even sing to each other.  Both are ignorant the language barrier that confronts them – it does not stop them from becoming friends. 

Tao (Zhao Tao) and Anna (Alla Shcherbakova) having a moment 

A scene that comes to mind is when they are chatting to each other while having a drink. Anna tells Tao about how she has to sell herself in order to raise money to visit her sister, in which Tao replies with: “I envy you, you can go abroad, what freedom!” Perhaps Anna’s decision to sell herself and engage in prostitution indirectly represents the Western ideals that have influenced post-Socialist China – ideas such as commercialization and marketization. A significant change has been China opening itself up to international trade. I think Tao’s response is quite misguided when she is envious of Anna’s plans to travel abroad – Tao doesn’t understand what Anna has to go through in order to reach her end goal. This somewhat parallels what China is experiencing, with globalization appearing as an enticing concept, however, it doesn’t come without its hardships. Anna represents the Western influence that clashes and collides with the East (symbolized by Tao) and their language differences provide the barrier for a truly symbiotic relationship to work.

In an interview with Jia Zhang Ke, the director implies that The World was an indictment on the ‘modernization’ and globalization that is occurring in modern day China. He notes that China will have to make sacrifices before it becomes ‘wealthy’. The rise of global capitalism has seen many companies from big countries benefit from China’s cheap labour resources – the workers are seen as the ‘victims of globalisation’ (the sacrifice). They work dangerous jobs, ridiculously long hours and earn minimum wages. This is manifest in The World through the financial situation of the workers at the Beijing World Park, living in crowded dorm rooms on the periphery of the city.

In lives of the characters in the film seem so repetitive – they go through the same motions, perform the same dances – there is a sense of them being trapped in this ‘fabricated’ world.  It’s all appearances, says Jia Zhangke, who notes that China only appears modern externally with many internal problems. Nevertheless, the film still passed censorship from the Chinese government – I see it as more of a portrayal of the current situation in China, without offering any solutions as to how it can be improved.

The scene where Tao bumps into Anna in the bathroom at a karaoke bar left an impression on me. Tao realizes Anna has become a prostitute and both end up crying to each other, not knowing what the other person is thinking. I thought this moment was very poignant – the film does well to capture the ‘momentness’ of a moment such as the one mentioned.

Overall, The World really opened my eyes on the effects of globalisation in China, and particularly the effects on its people.  The film felt very real - it was as if you were actually living the life of a Chinese person during China's modernisation. It was a life of repetition - a routined lifestyle, performing the same dances, going through the same motions day in day out.  I was really touched by the story of Tao (who was played by Zhao Tao). She's trapped in this fake world and there seems to be no way out - you can't not feel sorry for her.   

The interview with Jia ZhangKe is quite interesting and can be found here: http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2004/09/int-s29.html

Further reading: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/01/movies/01worl.html?_r=0