Struggling: A heavy slice of Shanghai life

Is this thing worth your time?

If you like movies that sit in the quiet corners of a city—the kind where the drama is mostly just people talking and looking stressed in small rooms—you’ll probably get into this. It’s a bit of a slow walk, honestly. If you need a fast plot or some kind of big reveal to keep you awake, you’ll be bored to tears within twenty minutes. 🙄

It’s a story about a girl just trying to breathe in her own house. Her father is the kind of guy who sucks all the air out of a room just by existing. You know the type. You can feel the tension in the way she sets the table. It’s not subtle, but it works.

The Neighbor Factor

Then there’s the neighbor. He’s the bookish type, obviously. There’s a specific scene where they’re just standing near a doorway, and the way the light hits the peeling paint behind them is more interesting than half the big-budget stuff I’ve seen this year.

They don’t really *do* much, these two. They talk about books. They share looks that suggest they’re both tired of everything. It’s nice. It reminds me a bit of the quiet desperation found in Illegal, though it’s definitely its own beast.

Odd Little Moments

• There is a shot of a tea kettle that lasts about four seconds too long. I think the director just liked the sound it made.
• The father’s heavy footsteps in the hallway. You hear them before you see him, and it makes you want to hide under your own couch.
• The street scenes in Shanghai feel weirdly empty at times, like everyone decided to go inside just so the actors could have a moment of peace.

I wouldn't call this a masterpiece or anything that’s going to change your life. Sometimes the pacing just hits a wall. It’s not quite as punchy as The Wildcat, but it has a rhythm that eventually grows on you.

It’s the kind of movie that feels imperfect. There are parts that feel like they needed another edit, or maybe just a different angle. But that’s what makes it feel like it was made by an actual person. It’s not trying to sell you a product. It’s just trying to show you a shitty week in a person’s life.

Also, the ending. I’m still not sure if I liked it or if it just gave up. It’s one of those things where you watch the screen go black and you’re just left sitting there, wondering if you should make a sandwich or just stare at the wall for a bit. That’s usually a good sign, right? ☕