Dance Still
东四十条
China, 2023, colour, 1.33:1, 89 mins.
Directors: Tan Muqiu 覃牧秋, Zhan Hanqi 詹涵淇.
Rating: 5/10.
A larky exercise in cinematic minimalism, this scores high for originality and look but somewhat lower for point.
STORY
Beijing, Dongcheng district, Gulou (Bell Tower) area, the present day. April. In a hutong, while queuing for roast duck, Shitiao (Qian Geng), a calligrapher, is engaged in conversation by a weird guy, Yang Dongsi (Yang Kaihang), who’s standing behind him. He say he’s a games programmer who’s just been sacked for a crazy idea. The two walk around looking fr some pigeons to claim a RMB100,000 reward that’s been flyposted. June. The two sit on the grass eating sunflower seeds and chatting. August. The two fish by a river. As they chat, Yang Dongsi keeps catching things like a beer bottle or a giant calligrapher’s brush. September. The two soak all day in a public bath, then stroll the hutongs at night, during which time they’re joined by a drunk. October. Autumn has arrived as the two stroll the hutongs. December. The city is covered in snow and the two hang about on a public exercise machine. They tell everyone they’re waiting for pigeons. January. The two are by a frozen lake, where people are skating and playing ice hockey. They pick up some earbuds frozen in the ice and listen to them
REVIEW
Two eccentrics stroll the alleyways of “old” Beijing, while engaging in meaningless conversation (or sometimes none at all) in Dance Still 东四十条, a larky exercise in cinematic minimalism that also doubles as a portrait of the city’s beloved Bell Tower area in seven snapshots throughout the year. This first feature by writer-directors Tan Muqiu 覃牧秋 and Zhan Hanqi 詹涵淇 finally got a limited relesse in Apr 2025, a year and a half after premiering at the Pingyao festival. Shot on an initial budget of RMB50,000, it took a tiny RMB540,000, respectable considering its specialised appeal.
The film was shot in bits and pieces throughout the year, accurately reflecting the seasons; and though the film-makers opted for colour rather than black-and-white, they deliberately chose the old-fashioned aspect ratio of 1.33:1 to underline the production’s bandit nature. In fact, the photography by Di Zekai 狄泽恺 is the film’s highlight, catching the mood and climate of each season with simple, easy grace in carefully framed, longish takes.
The obvious intention is to be a low-key, inconsequential comedy, a black take on northern-style xiangsheng 相声 (stand-up) with long pauses and no punchlines. As the calligrapher and his new-found friend, non-professionals Qian Geng 钱赓 (a real-life calligrapher whose work includes the poster for The River of Fury 怒水西流, 2025) and Yang Kaihang 杨凯航 (an art teacher and bassist in a band) play easily off each other, though in truth they’re not asked to do much. And despite its originality and comic take on slacker culture, it would have worked just as well as a half-hour short.
The Chinese title is simply the two men’s names “Dongsi, Shitiao”. What the English title signifies is anybody’s guess.
CREDITS
Presented by Zhejiang Easy Paipai Films (CN), Beijing Mobius Culture (CN).
Script: Zhan Hanqi, Tan Muqiu. Photography: Di Zekai. Editing: Yu Jianfan, Mao Guoqiang, Yan Bowen. Music supervision: Lin Yun. Art direction: Zheng Yican. Styling: Liu K Bao. Sound: Li Duo.
Cast: Qian Geng (Shitiao), Yang Kaihang (Yang Dongsi), Lin Jiaxi (kite flyer), Zhao Xingfu (barber).
Premiere: Pingyao Film Festival (Hidden Dragon Competition), 13 Oct 2023.
Release: China, 8 Apr 2025.