UpstreamChina's latest blockbuster tells the story of a middle-aged programmer who is laid off. He can no longer work in an office because of his age and is forced to work odd jobs as a food delivery man in order to support his family. This is one of the social issues that is rarely highlighted in recent Chinese films.
REUTERS – Upstream raises economic issues rarely shown in recent Chinese films, such as an uncertain job market, declining mobility and the difficult lives of millions of its citizens who are forced to work odd jobs.
The film touched the hearts of audiences in Beijing so much that some of them cried while watching it.
Some of the audience said, “In fact, this film really reflects what is happening now, including the general situation and the employment conditions.”
“This movie is very touching. I think the director made this movie really realistic.”
Directed by Xu Zheng, who also stars in the film, the film features low-paid motorbike drivers working for China's online food delivery platform led by Meituan.
Drivers are forced to speed to avoid fines for late food deliveries and must adapt to robotic orders from an app on their phones.
The film comes as uncertainty in a deflationary economy and the daily stresses of food delivery workers are gaining attention. It is a departure from the typical genres of Chinese blockbusters over the years – which have typically been war stories, historical dramas and romances.
A number of circles praised Upstream because it deals with social issues that are not often addressed in recent films, which are subject to censorship. Others were not impressed by the happy ending, with the protagonist managing to deliver enough orders to cover his late mortgage payment.
In China, there are at least 10 million food delivery people working for Meituan and its biggest rival, Alibaba's Ele.me.
The drivers complain of long working hours and wages per delivery that are often less than $1. A 37-year-old food deliveryman in Shanghai told Reuters that he would leave the industry if he had another option. The unnamed driver said, “This is not a job for normal people. Imagine peak hours at midday, so many orders, there is no other way but to race against time. Sometimes in the last minute or two before the deadline the order is considered late, we have to race against our lives. It is not easy.”
In Upstream, The competition between drivers and food delivery platforms is depicted as relentless. It also shows how drivers have no time to rest and sometimes take dangerous shortcuts in their 14-hour workdays in order to get incentives.
Ashley Dudarenok writes books about Chinese business and consumer trends. She says, “This is a pretty realistic picture of a lot of Chinese people today. Before, if you think back five, 10 years, what really made China stand out was the very positive consumer mindset of the average entrepreneur. Because there was a strong underlying belief that tomorrow is going to be better than today, the economy is going to be better, opportunities are going to be better, technology is going to move us forward. ‘I’m going to build my skills and my future is going to be better.’ Now, that belief is gone.”
A Meituan spokesperson said the company was not involved in making the film. Upstream. When asked Reuters, Meituan did not comment on the company's depiction in the film.
Alibaba's film-making subsidiary is listed among 17 companies producing films. Upstream. The company also did not immediately comment on the film. (uh/ab)
