On the Beat
On the Beat
| 08 September 1995 (USA)
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Take crime out of police work, and what's left is procedures. In the western sector of Beijing, we follow the tedium of police officers. A rabid dog is loose in Guoli's beat: a gang of police officers hunts it down. Then, word comes from on high to pick up all the dogs in the sector: fear of rabies combines with the dogs' being status symbols of the nouveau riche. Occasionally a criminal is picked up: someone selling porn, someone running a three-card-monte game. Cops smoke, go to meetings, and hold trainings. They patrol on bicycles and enforce edicts. Guoli works nights. He's lazy at home, his wife wants him to do more. Is there any more to do?

Reviews
Konterr

Brilliant and touching

SpunkySelfTwitter

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

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Dynamixor

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

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KnotStronger

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

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FilmCriticLalitRao

Ning Ying is one of the most talented women filmmakers from China. She is known for her simple films which portray sympathy for the weaklings, underdogs. Most of her films are based in Beijing, the Chinese capital which is becoming more and more modern. Her film has borrowed some influence from veteran Italian director Bernardo Bortoucci, "The Last Emperor" for which Ning Ying worked. Minjing Gushi (On the beat)is a simple film about two cops who must help each other as a lot depends on their togetherness. It is through them that we get to see city of Beijing, policemen on duty and family troubles for Chinese couples. It is said that work is important for an employed person. This is the case with one of the cops who tries his best to capture stray dogs. Ning Ying asked some real policemen to do this role in order to give her film an air of authenticity. On the beat is a charming film which tells us that family life is as important as working hours spent in office .A nice film to enjoy from a talented, respected woman filmmaker from China.

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academic3000

A hilarious and realistic look at (police) life in Beijing; this film was produced on location and used real police, not actors; allegedly, the criminals shown were actually apprehended during the production of the film.The other review commented that this film was incredibly dull and boring-- I it found the exact opposite. It was absolutely amazing to see the real mid-nineties Beijing. The supposedly "every-day" nature of the material is enlightening to one who has not experienced the mid-nineties Beijing, and is surely an insightful "step-back" analysis even to one who has experienced it.All the material is first-rate. For someone not particularly looking for sensationalism, for someone who is fascinated by amazing (but not ridiculous) people and things that happen in the real world, this is a great film. I marvelled at the resourceful-- albeit somewhat pathetic, but nonetheless likable-- police officers and criminals.

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