Ping Guo (Lost in Beijing) (2007)

52% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
62% of users liked it
(1,599 ratings)

Mainland writer/director Li Yu teams with producer and screenwriter Fang Li for this tale of money and love in the Chinese capitol. Lin Dong (Tony Leung Kar-fai) is a resourceful entrepreneur from the southern province of Guangdong who has risen through the ranks to become the manager of the highly… More Mainland writer/director Li Yu teams with producer and screenwriter Fang Li for this tale of money and love in the Chinese capitol. Lin Dong (Tony Leung Kar-fai) is a resourceful entrepreneur from the southern province of Guangdong who has risen through the ranks to become the manager of the highly profitable Golden Basin Foot Massage Parlor. The popular parlor is staffed by a group of attractive young girls that includes Liu Pingguo (Fan Bingbing) and Xiaomei (Zeng Meihuizi), two Guangdong natives who are also looking for a better life in the big city. One night, after some heavy drinking, Dong takes Pingguo up to his lavish apartment and awkwardly forces himself on the girl as her window-cleaner husband, Kun (Tong Dawei), watches in shock from his harness outside. Later, when Pingguo discovers that she is pregnant, Dong, his infertile wife, Wang Mei (Elaine Jin), Kun, and the mother-to-be all sit down together to sign contracts that will allow Dong to adopt the child in exchange for a healthy chunk of change. The airtight agreement slowly begins to unravel, however, when the child is born and biological mother Pingguo realizes that giving up her child simply isn't an option. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: Yu Li
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 25, 2008 Wide
On DVD: Apr 22, 2008
Studio: New Yorker Films

Critic Reviews

G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
Begins with a wild coincidence and goes rapidly downhill from there, becoming one of the most unintentionally hilarious tragedies in quite some time.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
The film benefits from solid performances by its four stars, but it is overly didactic and drawn-out as its comic tone grows darker and darker.
A.O. Scott, New York Times
Though the film's emotional tone is blurry -- toward the end it swerves away from farce and back toward anguish - its social criticism could hardly be more clear.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
The sex is sufficient (if you care), the acting is good, and the shots of Beijing's streets and highways are interesting. But the story is contrived.
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News
When a rapist (Tony Leung) is the second-most sympathetic character in a story about greed, duplicity and adultery among four people, it needs a more forgiving audience than me.
John Anderson, Newsday
It's a funny film, a parable of sorts, and a character-driven take on what's ticking in China.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A monotonous sordid melodrama.
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
Li cements her status as a Chinese director to watch.
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
How do you say 'Jerry Springer' in Mandarin?
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Lost In Beijing is most noted for several thumb-nosing gratuitous sex scenes that got the movie reprimanded by the censors back home.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Lost In Beijing is most noted for several thumb-nosing gratuitous sex scenes that got the movie reprimanded by the censors back home.
Jules Brenner, Cinema Signals
You don't wind up thinking much of any of these characters. Sympathy is lost somewhere around the time the frantic camera style makes you dizzy.
Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times
Too serious for comedy and too improbable to achieve much impact as social melodrama, it works best as a showcase for its actors, all of whom bring more depth to the material than it achieves on its own.
Bill White, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Lost in Beijing tells the story of a man who, when his wife becomes pregnant after being raped by her employer, enters into a series of financial negotiations with him.
David Noh, Film Journal International
Fang Li should be applauded for his courageous efforts to address taboo subjects of sex and politics, even while one may question certain aspects of his films.
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
As messy a dysfunctional relationship drama as you could hope to witness on screen. How do you say 'Jerry Springer' in Mandarin?
Chris Barsanti, Filmcritic.com
whatever meaning the film might have had about China's disaffected, new striving capitalists is lost in the chaos and clutter
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
An engaging parable about the dire effects of giving in to the Western obsession with money.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Mark A

A study in contrasts that plays out in the modern city of Beijing. Two disparate couples are joined together in an intricate ballet of deception, betrayal, blackmail, and sexual tension. The contrast is between a rich, childless couple and a poor, working class couple. It contrasts… More
A study in contrasts that plays out in the modern city of Beijing. Two disparate couples are joined together in an intricate ballet of deception, betrayal, blackmail, and sexual tension. The contrast is between a rich, childless couple and a poor, working class couple. It contrasts the victim with his or her oppressor and the deceived against the deceiver. Each of these four tortured souls are involved in a gamble wherein they could lose everything and one is never sure who is winning, or indeed, if there are any winners at all. Interesting camera work maintains the dynamic tensions. There are long shots of Beijing and the mass of humanity, and long interior shots in which little is said or done, but in which violent emotions are on display. The cast is excellent, and the story maintains its narrow focus on these four characters almost without blinking. Only one small side story breaks the string, and it only adds poignancy.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "Lost in Beijing," Liu Pingguo(Bingbing Fan) works in a foot massage parlor where her friend Xiao Mei(Meihuizi Zeng) is fired for an altercation with a client despite quite possibly being in the right. So, the two friends get drunk. And that is when… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "Lost in Beijing," Liu Pingguo(Bingbing Fan) works in a foot massage parlor where her friend Xiao Mei(Meihuizi Zeng) is fired for an altercation with a client despite quite possibly being in the right. So, the two friends get drunk. And that is when Lin Dong(Tony Leung Ka Fai), their boss, rapes Liu Pingguo which is observed by her husband An Kun(Dawei Tong) who is conveniently outside working as a window washer. Instead of reporting him to the police, he attempts to extort money but does gain a measure of revenge by having sex with Wang Mei(Elaine Jin), Lin Dong's wife, who cannot have children. On the other hand, Liu Pingguo is now pregnant.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Lost in Beijing" has some great shots of Beijing but the handheld camerawork gets a little tiresome. Overall, the movie is a pointed and disturbing critique of capitalism in China and how it corrupts all who come into contact with it. Start with the foot massage parlor(I'm going to have to reconsider my previous thoughts about the worst job) where the women have to put up with all sorts of molestation by the customers. And the boss who is the prime example of capitalism is worse. But what is shocking is that Liu Pingguo still wants to work there after she is raped. Are there no other alternatives?[/font]
Anthony V

After two graphic sexual encounters, the film settles into a interesting character piece, well directed and excellently acted. My problem was most of the characters were unlikable (although there were great lengths to show them as well rounded people with both good and bad within),… More
After two graphic sexual encounters, the film settles into a interesting character piece, well directed and excellently acted. My problem was most of the characters were unlikable (although there were great lengths to show them as well rounded people with both good and bad within), and even Bingbing Fan's character (the most likable) was a bit of a doormat. Still an interesting perspective of Chinese culture (that was banned in China).
alan j

Excellent drama about a silce of life in modern day Beijing..excellent acting especaily by Tony Leung Ka Fai and Bingbing. All four central characters put forth a strong effort and the story does not disappoint. Moving, touching at times and does hold your interest. The story and… More
Excellent drama about a silce of life in modern day Beijing..excellent acting especaily by Tony Leung Ka Fai and Bingbing. All four central characters put forth a strong effort and the story does not disappoint. Moving, touching at times and does hold your interest. The story and the drama together is quite realistic and at times you wont feel as though you are watching a movie. See this!