“Wang Baoqiang’s Better and Better: Village Evening (2013): A Chinese Movie Celebrating Rural Resilience and Lunar New Joy”
Introduction: A Lunar New Year Gem Hidden in Plain Sight
While global audiences often associate Chinese cinema with lavish wuxia epics or urban crime thrillers, Wang Baoqiang’s Better and Better: Village Evening (2013) offers a radically different perspective. This underrated rural comedy-drama, released during China’s 2013 Spring Festival season, masterfully blends slapstick humor with poignant social commentary. As Western viewers increasingly seek authentic regional stories post-Parasite (2019), this film serves as a vibrant portal into China’s countryside culture and the transformative power of collective hope.
- Plot Overview: When Tradition Meets Ambition
Set in a remote Shanxi village, the story revolves around three interconnected narratives:
- Wang Baoqiang as Zhao Dagou: A migrant worker returning home to organize a village talent show, battling bureaucratic red tape and generational gaps.
- The Tech-Savvy Youth Brigade: A group of Gen-Z villagers livestreaming traditional customs while secretly planning a modernized New Year gala.
- The Elder’s Dilemma: A retired teacher (played by veteran actor Niu Ben) struggling to preserve paper-cutting artistry against digitalization.
What begins as a clash between tradition and modernity evolves into a heartwarming collaboration, culminating in a hybrid village晚会 (evening party) that honors heritage while embracing innovation.
- Cultural Depth: More Than Just Firecrackers and Dumplings
A. Lunar New Year as Cultural Microcosm
The film uses Spring Festival preparations to explore:
- Rural-Urban Dynamics: Migrant workers’ dual identity through Zhao’s struggle to reconcile city-learned skills with village values .
- Digital vs. Analog Traditions: The youth’s TikTok-style edits of lion dances mirror China’s 2013 smartphone boom, which saw rural mobile internet users grow by 28% that year.
- Communal Problem-Solving: The collective effort to fix a broken ancestral hall roof symbolizes xiangtu (乡土) culture – the Chinese philosophical emphasis on grassroots unity.
B. Subversive Humor with Purpose
Wang Baoqiang’s signature comedic style evolves here:
- Satirical Bureaucracy: A scene where villagers “hack” permit approvals using AI-generated opera singing (ahead of its time in 2013!) critiques institutional rigidity.
- Generational Punchlines: The elder’s confusion over “直播带货” (livestream sales) becomes a metaphor for China’s rapid digital transformation.
- Technical Brilliance: Cinematic Poetry of the Ordinary
A. Visual Storytelling
Director Zhang Yibai (known for The Longest Night in Shanghai) employs:
- Documentary-Style Framing: Long shots of loess plateau landscapes contrast with intimate close-ups of calloused hands making dumplings.
- Color Symbolism: Red lanterns dominate early scenes, gradually replaced by LED screens – a visual metaphor for modernization’s inevitability.
B. Sound Design Innovation
The soundtrack ingeniously mixes:
- Shanxi Opera Samples: Digitally remixed with electronic beats during the finale performance.
- Ambient Noise as Narrative: Roosters crowing and tractor engines form rhythmic backdrops to dialogues, grounding the story in rural authenticity.
- Why International Audiences Should Watch
A. Universal Themes with Local Flavors
- Identity Negotiation: Zhao’s journey mirrors the global migrant experience – 272 million Chinese rural workers faced similar struggles in 2013 .
- Intergenerational Compassion: The elder’s subplot offers insights into China’s aging population crisis, relevant to societies worldwide.
B. Post-Pandemic Resonance
The film’s emphasis on community rebuilding and hybrid celebrations (physical + digital) parallels 2025’s global recovery narratives.
- Viewing Guide for Foreigners
- Streaming Availability: Currently on iQiyi with English subtitles; VPN needed for non-China viewers.
- Cultural References Decoded:
- “红包” (Red Envelopes): Symbolize blessings, not just money.
- Village晚会 Format: Originated from 1980s state TV galas, evolving into grassroots creativity outlets.
- Pair With: The Taste of Others (2021) for a French counterpart exploring rural-urban divides.
Conclusion: Why Village Evening Matters in 2025
As algorithms increasingly dominate global entertainment, this 2013 gem reminds us that technology enhances rather than replaces human connection. Wang Baoqiang’s career-best balance of humor and pathos makes Zhao Dagou a timeless everyman – part Charlie Chaplin, part Confucian idealist. For viewers weary of superhero fatigue, here’s a superbly human story where the real “special effects” are steamed buns, shared laughter, and the courage to rebuild.
Final Rating: 4.5/5 – A dumpling feast for the soul, best enjoyed with family.