Floating Life (飘)
Floating Life
Directed by Huang Weikai, 2005 (93 min., English Subtitles)
The drastic economic disparity between rural and urban areas in contemporary China causes large numbers of the rural population to pour into cities. Chinese laws and regulations on the detention and repatriation of permitless “vagrants and beggars” in the cities have made these new migrants susceptible to punishment and discrimination. Originally coming from the rural Henan Province, Yang is a singer who ekes out a living by singing in the underground passages of urban business centers in the city of Guangzhou. Everyday he carries with him his temporary residency card and ID card to avoid being caught and detained by the local police. To protect his business, he has to bribe the security guards who are in charge of the underground passages where he sings. Many of Yang’s friends have been detained by the local police and sent back home, but soon after, they come back to the city and continue their “drifting life.” Already turning thirty, Yang is thinking about ending his drifting life and going back to his home village to start a married life with his first love.
黄文凯《飘》 93 minutes, 2005
當今中國城鄉之間的巨大經濟差異，引致大量農民湧入城市，然而落後的收容遣送制度使這批外來者成為了受制裁和歧視的目標物件。楊是一位來至河南農村的流浪歌手，在城市商業中心的過街隧道裏以賣唱為生。他每天都攜帶暫住證和身份證，以防被員警收容。為了保住飯碗，他需要收買管理隧道的保安，同時還要跟城管周旋，並且排擠其他街頭藝人。楊身邊的朋友經常被收容遣送回家，然後他們又從家鄉回來城市繼續飄蕩不定的生活。在楊三十歲這年，當初想當歌星的夢想已成為泡影，他想結束自己的流浪，回家和初戀情人結婚，但新舊情人間的情感糾葛，使他的生活變得更加混亂。最後，他在唱歌時被收容遣送回家。
Fall 2006 Chinese Documentary Film Series – Showcasing Films from REC Foundation’s REEL CHINA Biennial Film Festival