Xiao Wu (Pickpocket)

Director: Jia Zhangke, Jia Zhangke, Jia Zhangke

1997 / 108min / DCP

Set in Jia’s hometown of Fenyang, his feature debut—which takes its English-language title, Pickpocket, from that of Robert Bresson’s 1959 film—is a character study of a young petty criminal, Xiao Wu (Wang Hongwei) who finds himself increasingly isolated as his circle of friends turn their attention to black-market entrepreneurship. Through Xiao Wu’s story, Jia shows us a city and its people in the midst of massive economic and physical changes, firmly placing his sympathy with those, like his protagonist, who will be left behind by the Chinese Dream.

Restored by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project and Cineteca di Bologna at L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory in collaboration with Jia Zhangke and in association with MK2. Restoration funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.