CHANGING CHINA

Subtitled “Life is Marvelous Because of You,” which is also the title of its theme song by the pop-punk band New Pants, this “inspirational” documentary follows six individuals of varied professions—a deliveryman/boxer, a doctor, a teacher,a policeman, a researcher, and the CEO of China’s first private commercial rocket company—as they strive to pursue their dreams, big and small. While a 106-minute film cannot begin to represent all of China’s multi-faceted modern society, it’s a worthy attempt to record the present-day lives of ordinary people.

SUMMER DETECTIVE

Two seniors in a Hebei village, Chaoying (Xu Chaoying) and Zhanyi (Zhang Zhanyi),inquire into a hit-and-run that landed their friend in a coma with a huge hospital bill. Unexpected funny moments abound, as the two turn to a shaman, a web of rural guanxi, and their own ingenuity to investigate and confront the suspects.The depiction of the tranquil, beautiful countryside is dotted with wacky scenes like a cow being lifted into the air and goldfish swimming in plastic tarp on the ceiling. This magical realistic tone is completed by the true-to-life performances of the all-amateur cast, yet the film never loses the dark humor at its core.

GONE WITH THE LIGHT

A mysterious white light shines over a city, and afterward, certain people have disappeared. Many of them vanished in pairs, leading to rumors that only those who have found true love were taken. High school teacher Wu Wenxue (Huang Bo) and his wife Zhang Yan (Tan Zhuo) are both left behind, and start to ask awkward questions about their 18-year marriage. Career woman Li Nan (Wang Luodan) meets her husband’s mistress, and uncovers many other secrets. Street gangster Kuaizi (Bai Ke), obsessing over an old friend’s disappearance and suspected murder, is forced to confront his sexuality. All have to find their own answers to the question: Is there an ultimate arbiter for love?

ONLY CLOUD KNOWS

Director Feng Xiaogang’s (1942, I am Not Madame Bovary) latest production is a departure from his past works in historical drama and urban comedy, spanning several decades in the love story of Sui Dongfeng (Huang Xuan) and Luo Yun (Yang Caiyu). The two protagonists meet in their 20s in New Zealand, but despite their obvious attraction, Luo seems to be holding back. Eventually, the two get married and begin running a Chinese restaurant together, happily for the most part, in spite of Luo’s constant struggle for a sense of security. She has been hiding a secret that can only be pieced together after her death. The film is based on the real-life experiences of a friend of the director’s. - LIU JUE (劉玨)