moviefreak

The title of this movie really says it all (the Chinese title is “Ping guo”). It doesn’t mean being lost in the street, but being lost amidst choices and consequences, particularly taking the wrong decision. It means being lost in this modern world. This is NOT a happy-go-lucky movie and it’s a realistic view of life in modern Beijing and as a result of this realistic approach, this movie is BANNED in China even after being censored and the producers are punished (they can’t make movies in 2 years).

The Story:

Liu Ping Guo (Bingbing Fan) works as a masseuse in a foot massage parlor owned by Lin Dong (Tony Leung). She’s married, but due to the type of work she’s doing, she hasn’t told her boss yet about that fact, especially since she’s the best masseuse there. Every day, all the girls working there have to endure sexual harrasment by the clients. 

One day Liu Ping Guo comes to work in a drunken state. The playboy Lin Dong who often sleeps with prostitutes takes advantage of the moment (also since he doesn’t know that she’s married). In her stupor, she has no strength to push him away. While they’re doing the act, the jealous husband An Kun (Dawei Tong), who’s been peeping into her workplace as he cleans the windows (he’s a window cleaner). Naturally An Kun is angry, so he marches inside to teach Lin Dong a lesson.

Now the trust between husband and wife is broken. The angry An Kun tries to blackmail Lin Dong, though it’s to no avail. Greedy An Kun then visits Lin Dong’s wife, Wang Mei (Elaine Jin) to do the same thing. Instead of giving him the money, Wang Mei tells him that if he wants revenge, he should just get laid with another woman (she specifically means HERSELF in this matter). In the end, An Kun does sleep with Wang Mei. 

The problem becomes more complicated as Liu Ping Guo finds out that she’s pregnant and she doesn’t know if the father is An Kun or Lin Dong. Again the greedy An Kun takes advantage of the situation. He thinks that it’s Lin Dong’s baby, so he must pay for him (meaning he wants to sell the baby). Since Lin Dong and Wang Mei have no kids of their own, Lin Dong is actually ECSTATIC about the possibility of having his own kid, so he gives An Kun some money and he promises to pay more if the baby proves to be his through a blood test. The agreement also states that Liu Ping Guo will stay with them for a while to breastfeed the baby and after that task is done, she can go back home with An Kun.

What happens when the baby is born? Whose child is it really? Lin Dong’s or An Kun’s? What happens with the agreement? Will An Kun and Liu Ping Guo stay together?

Notes:

1. This movie doesn’t have a happy ending. You can see plenty of turmoil as the story progresses. Jealousy, suspicion, greed, lust, revenge, fear, loneliness, sorrow…it’s the real deal. Once you make a mistake and you keep on making bad choices, don’t expect life to give you roses. Due to some sensual scenes and its deep theme, I think this movie is only for adults. 

2. I think the best performer in this movie is Tony Leung as Lin Dong. His acting really touches me especially nearing the end of the movie. All in all, I’ll give this movie a 7.8 stars out of 10. 

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