Director／photographer/editor: Zhang Zhanqing
Length: 85 mins
Production: Ares Documentary Studio，2006
Synopsis：
In the morning, he is an advertising agent; In the afternoon, he goes to an underground dance hall in order to seek spiritual and carnal comfort; In the evening, he becomes a complete alcoholic and sponges on his friends. That’s the life of a forty- year old man named Dagang who has been laid off. His mother suffers from mental illness for not being able to adapt to the fast-changing society. Dagang divorced for his pursuit of true love. But the economic hardship compelled him to end this relation. At last, his wife and child abandoned him. He still retains hopes for the love and family for all that. Somehow, he is backed by a faith. Every morning when the cold air clears his muddled brain, he becomes vigorous again.
He and his friends are doing dirty and silly things every day; for instance, they goof around a park which is a leisure facility mainly for the elders. He almost possesses nothing and feels no pain any more. His only means to resist the impacts from the society is his refusal of reflection.
Therefore he indulges himself in a lifestyle featuring “for every minute that I live.I'll enjoy the 60 seconds”.
Director’s statements：
The scale of the society has been ever uneven. For all that, the scale will never lose balance as long as there’s a solid pivot. In China, people living at the bottom of the society are lagging behind the fast-developing society. These people are labeled laid-off workers. They are looking for the lost affections in the jungle of cement buildings.
They can’t elevate themselves from the hardship of survival. Yet they dream of being on cloud nine. In this apathetic society, they indulge themselves as much as they like.
I saw their smiles all the time. But I know they are not happy. Their smiles are expressions of self-indulgence. Behind their smiling faces are stories about abandonment, resignation and despair.