A beautiful life is in review and reflection
—— Directed by Long Fei, "Walk and Stop"
A life of walking and stopping
"Walk and Stop" is a very special film at the moment, and it is the best and most profound domestic film I have seen in recent years. It does not have grand, wealthy, or handsome characters, nor dazzling and unforgettable landscapes and scenes, nor captivating and intricate plots. It simply presents the life of a failed "Beijing drifter" returning home in a realistic manner, seemingly without exaggeration or embellishment, just a raw presentation, capturing all the nooks and crannies without avoiding the rich or poor, even the old grime on the kitchen's gas stove is not overlooked. It truly achieves "artistic realism" and has a strong "artistic meaning."
Beijing drifter Wu Di is a screenwriter who can no longer make it in Beijing. He is not lacking in talent, nor is he lazy, but many things do not go as planned. His scripts have been plagiarized in many places, and many scenes have been taken to the stage by others, yet he has nothing to do with it. He tells his girlfriend about this, but she ultimately responds with, "Don't come looking for me again." He simply leaves Beijing and returns to his hometown in Sichuan.
In fact, he is not well-received at home either. His mother says he couldn't make it in Beijing, and his father says even worse, that he is a piece of shit no matter where he is. When the taxi driver sister tells him upon arriving home, "You can choose between the upper bunk and the living room," there isn't even a hint of politeness.
Even in such a dire situation, he is still unwilling to give up his dreams and pursuits. His father, after begging around, finds him a job and tells him with some delight and pride, but he only pretends to be polite on the surface and ultimately refuses it firmly. This makes his father very angry, but his sister Wu Shuang gives him a way out: this is a good thing for both you and the job. Their mother somewhat agrees with this view.
Only his old classmate Feng Liuli, who is currently working at a TV station, still holds hope and expectations for this person returning from Beijing. She sees him in the crowd waiting for free eggs, takes the initiative to greet him, and makes him an important filming subject to reflect the life and mental state of middle-aged "Beijing drifters" returning home. In her eyes, he is calm and stable, always viewing life from a different perspective. Although he has returned to his hometown, he still insists on himself and dares to maintain a unique lifestyle and style. Every detail of his life is worth recording.
Feng Liuli's documentary filming makes him think that he can also achieve something, so he digs out a script he wrote before called "Like Old Friends Coming." This script is based on his mother's experiences, and he wants to shoot this short film as a way of explaining himself. Coincidentally, Feng Liuli's photography partner also has this idea. They hit it off, and he is willing to join with both people and equipment. Just as they are about to start filming, Feng Liuli tells him that the main actors have changed their minds and cannot come due to scheduling conflicts. Wu Di has to ask his mother and her friend Li Yuan to be the lead actors.
During the filming process, many interesting scenes occur. The unemployed theater actor, when receiving the invitation call, deliberately puts on the airs of a big actor, playing both the actor's assistant and the actor himself; in the play, he always wants to stand out, proposing new ideas: adding his own recitation, adding lines he likes, and increasing his screen time. While performing on the street, he is questioned by security personnel about whether he has approval. Wu Di tries to get close to them, politely offering cigarettes, but his actions are too exaggerated, causing the person to fall from the sitting bridge into the water below. Additionally, Wu Di's father watches his partner filming emotional scenes with actor Li Yuan, feeling a bit sour inside. When filming at home, he occasionally follows closely; when filming on location, he secretly follows from a distance. Everyone is busy filming and does not notice his presence, except for the attentive Feng Liuli, the documentary director, who notices him.
