Review of Platform (2001) by Curtis W — 15 Oct 2004
A drama about members of a Chinese theatre troupe, from around 1979 to the mid-80s or so. Shows the group performing on traditional instruments (plus accordians), singing songs the praise Mao and the great strength of the Chinese people. By the '80s, the troupe has been privatized. They perform punk rock and are pelted by rotting vegetables. Then it's simply a recording of some techno, with a couple of girls in stirrup pants dancing on the flatbed of a truck.
I kind of felt like China lost the plot, with the traditional sound giving way to bad-sounding punk and shrill techno. The traditional stuff had a propaganda message, but it was nice to listen to. The punk and techno had no message and was painful to hear.
Other than the performances, the drama involves the members of the troupes - a couple of guys and a couple of girls and their relationships.
I enjoyed the banter from time to time.
"Where's Ulan Bator," asks a guy while they are sitting around with apparently nothing to do (there's a lot of that going on).
"In Outer Mongolia, north of our Mongolia.".
"What's north of there?".
"Revisionists.".
"What's north of there?".
This review of Platform (2001) was written by Curtis W on 15 Oct 2004.
Platform has generally received positive reviews.
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