This Is Sanlitun (2013)

China is like a beer, if you don't like the taste you can just keep drinking

This Is Sanlitun (2013) poster

British sad sack Gary is a failed entrepreneur who has just arrived in Beijing's stylish Sanlitun district, allegedly to start a business. There are other reasons why he has uprooted himself — he's followed his ex-wife and young son, for one — but he soon finds out that China isn't the easiest place to succeed. Blissfully untouched by self-awareness, and only fitfully in tune with reality, Gary sallies forth to make money, armed with faith in himself and little to no knowledge of Chinese culture. He soon hooks up with Frank, a trust-fund kid from Australia who offers to mentor Gary in Eastern ways, although Frank's pedagogical method is restricted to yelling at Gary for being a Westerner and not being as "Chinese" as him.

Director: Róbert I. Douglas
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance
Runtime: 95 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Production: Vintage Pictures, Film Douglas & Li
Country: Australia, China, Iceland
Language: English
Original Language: en

Themes

Old-Fashioned Love: Letters and Longing, Male Friendship and Loyalty, Long Distance Love Kept Alive by Letters, Love Despite the Distance, Platonic Soulmates and Friendship

Keywords

city portrait, delusion, male friendship, love letter, mockumentary, slice of life, beijing, china, modern china, expatriate, great wall of china, cultural conflict, modern life, deadpan

Trailer

This Is Sanlitun Trailer
More Films by Director: Róbert I. Douglas
More Films in Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family

Frequently Asked Questions

What is This Is Sanlitun about?
British sad sack Gary is a failed entrepreneur who has just arrived in Beijing's stylish Sanlitun district, allegedly to start a business. There are other reasons why he has uprooted himself — he's followed his ex-wife and young son, for one — but he soon finds out that China isn't the easiest place to succeed. Blissfully untouched by self-awareness, and only fitfully in tune with reality, Gary sallies forth to make money, armed with faith in himself and little to no knowledge of Chinese culture. He soon hooks up with Frank, a trust-fund kid from Australia who offers to mentor Gary in Eastern ways, although Frank's pedagogical method is restricted to yelling at Gary for being a Westerner and not being as "Chinese" as him.
Who directed This Is Sanlitun?
This Is Sanlitun was directed by Róbert I. Douglas.
Who stars in This Is Sanlitun?
This Is Sanlitun stars Carlos Ottery, Christopher Loton, Ai Wan, Cromwell Cheung.
How long is This Is Sanlitun?
This Is Sanlitun has a runtime of 1h 35m (95 minutes).
What genre is This Is Sanlitun?
This Is Sanlitun is a Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance film.
Where was This Is Sanlitun produced?
This Is Sanlitun was produced in Australia, China, Iceland.
What are the themes of This Is Sanlitun?
The themes of This Is Sanlitun include: Old-Fashioned Love: Letters and Longing, Male Friendship and Loyalty, Long Distance Love Kept Alive by Letters, Love Despite the Distance, Platonic Soulmates and Friendship.