Review of Platform (2001) by Art S — 03 Jun 2011

Spanning from 1979 to 1990, Jia's film tackles the sociocultural changes in China that followed the Open Door policy of the 1980s by tracing the lives of a group of performers in a Cultural Troupe (from peasant songs to breakdance electronic).

Although we stick with a few principals, the long shot long take method makes them less the focus than the surrounding context, thereby underscoring the larger theme of cultural change and its impact.

Impressively, the effects wrought by time are not highlighted by the director but occur more subtly as outside influences on fashion, music, and lifestyle creep in.