Lately, a certain term began to sound very popular around China~ Chinese Dream. As government officials try to explain in their well prepared and yet very dull PR speeches, it's pretty much the same concept as the American Dream back in the 1950s~ work, money, happiness and national pride. However, "American Dreams in China" does not bother with this issue directly. It is only due to strange translation that one may get such an impression. Actually, the literal transliteration would sound something like "Chinese Partner". And indeed, the story is a mix of comedy and drama which revolves about the dreams and careers of 3 good friends, who came to be successful businessmen. You could say that "American Dreams in China" has elements of a Hollywood style rags-to-riches plot, but there's more to it~
For one to understand and like this motion title, one must comprehend what China looked like 30 years a go, and trust me, it had absolutely nothing to do with anything you have today. Back in the early 1980s when the story begins, Chinese society was still a firmly Maoist environment, with little or no personal freedoms. The country only started to open up, but still, the road ahead was long and challenging. Money or any kind of major material possessions were a distant dream for most. Young people had only but two choices~ to study and hope for a city desk job, or settle in the country side and employ in a field or factory. Naturally, many had a problem with the options, which pushed to them find luck in other places of the world, most often in the USA. Some of them succeeded to cross the ocean, but most had to stay in China and search for a different way.
"American Dreams in China" is a story about 3 college friends with same dreams, and yet, paths that took very different turns. It is a drama (based on a true story as they say) with comic elements~ A Chinese tale which in a humorous, and yet very bold ways speaks of a generation that started the business story which, up till today, made China the economic center of the world. Their work and effort will go along with the changing society, enduring the wild and turbulent tides.
So, did I like it? Quite so much~ I even saw the film in a Chinese cinema with no subtitles, which was a unique opportunity for me to polish my Mandarin, haha. "American Dreams in China" is a good and creative substance for all those who like drama, comedy and are willing to get into the social issues of China. Definitely worth watching~
For one to understand and like this motion title, one must comprehend what China looked like 30 years a go, and trust me, it had absolutely nothing to do with anything you have today. Back in the early 1980s when the story begins, Chinese society was still a firmly Maoist environment, with little or no personal freedoms. The country only started to open up, but still, the road ahead was long and challenging. Money or any kind of major material possessions were a distant dream for most. Young people had only but two choices~ to study and hope for a city desk job, or settle in the country side and employ in a field or factory. Naturally, many had a problem with the options, which pushed to them find luck in other places of the world, most often in the USA. Some of them succeeded to cross the ocean, but most had to stay in China and search for a different way.
"American Dreams in China" is a story about 3 college friends with same dreams, and yet, paths that took very different turns. It is a drama (based on a true story as they say) with comic elements~ A Chinese tale which in a humorous, and yet very bold ways speaks of a generation that started the business story which, up till today, made China the economic center of the world. Their work and effort will go along with the changing society, enduring the wild and turbulent tides.
So, did I like it? Quite so much~ I even saw the film in a Chinese cinema with no subtitles, which was a unique opportunity for me to polish my Mandarin, haha. "American Dreams in China" is a good and creative substance for all those who like drama, comedy and are willing to get into the social issues of China. Definitely worth watching~