Beijing in the 1990s is a city where the urge for modernity and innovation is bringing about great and rapid changes. Lost among impressive skyscrapers and desolate blocks of flats, there is a police station manned by officers who have trouble keeping up with the pace of progress.
Community policeman Yang Guoli works long hours, which causes a lot of stress for his family. When a drunk is bitten by a rabid dog, the authorities decide to instigate a big clean-up campaign. So the cops' workload gets even bigger.
This comic ensemble film is the second part of Ning's Beijing Trilogy, which analyses developments in the Chinese capital. All the actors are non-professionals - in fact, the cops are real Chinese community police officers. in terms of his themes, director Ning can be seen as one of the Sixth Generation of filmmakers, which includes Jia Zhangke. With On the Beat, she expands her horizon by portraying a traditional community that is being threatened on all sides by modernity.
Director
Ning Ying
Country of production
China
Year
1995
Festival Edition
IFFR 2014
Length
102'
Medium
Betacam Digi
Original title
Minjing gushi
Language
Mandarin
Producer
Hu Yonsha
Production Company
Eurasia Communications Ltd.
Sales
Eurasia Communications Ltd.
Screenplay
Ying Ning
Cinematography
Wu Hong Wei, Zhi Lei
Editor
Ning Ying
Production Design
Kuangming Cheng
Sound Design
Jun Chao
Music
Cong Su
Cast
Li Jian, Liu Ying Shu
Director
Ning Ying
Country of production
China
Year
1995
Festival Edition
IFFR 2014
Length
102'
Medium
Betacam Digi
Original title
Minjing gushi
Language
Mandarin
Producer
Hu Yonsha
Production Company
Eurasia Communications Ltd.
Sales
Eurasia Communications Ltd.
Screenplay
Ying Ning
Cinematography
Wu Hong Wei, Zhi Lei
Editor
Ning Ying
Production Design
Kuangming Cheng
Sound Design
Jun Chao
Music
Cong Su
Cast
Li Jian, Liu Ying Shu