Sunday 2nd April 2017, Xiao Wu (The Pickpocket) from Jia Zhangke, 1997. 111 minutes. Language: Mandarin/Jin Chinese. Subtitles:English. Door opens at 8pm, film begin at 9pm. Free admission.

Tonight we will screen the film Xiao Wu or Pickpocket, directed by Chinese director Jia Zhangke and starring only non-professional actors. The film plays in the 1990s, which is a transitional period in China away from communism and towards capitalism. The lead character, a pickpocket on the fringes of society, is struggling to cope with the rapid changes.

What’s so great about this film is that it perfectly and honestly captures the atmosphere of 1990s China, an era when many just overcame their hunger. This place was so poor and culturally remote that few took the effort to document anything. This time did however lay the basics for the current superpower of 1.3 billion. Even if only for that reason, this is a film worth to be seen!

Film night at Joe’s Garage, cozy cinema! Doors open after 8pm, film begins at 9pm, free entrance. You want to play a movie, let us know: joe [at] squat [dot] net