Shanghaiist: Shanghai: A utopia of courtesy?

adso

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:01:07 +0800

I'm glad someone else was disturbed by this Shanghai equivalent of a 'public information film.' We used to have similar things in the UK when I was a kid, telling us about the importance of learning to swim and not dropping litter in the countryside. But this sort of slick up-date smacks of desperation. They almost seem to be saying, "Come on people, let's make an effort and not totally embarass ourselves when all these foreigners arrive in the summer." Who cares if the Chinese aren't the smiliest people in the world? Why should they be? These saccharine scenes are unbelievably patronising: the smug couple who look so ecstatic at having to give the last piece of fish in the supermarket to some sad singleton; and the man who risks doing himself an injury hoisting up a washing line in case someone walks into his smalls. Pur - lease!! And the girl who holds her umbrella up for her fellow passengers while she gets absolutely pissed on. Oh boy. I can't wait to see that for the first time in Shanghai - only because I've always wondered what hell looks like when it freezes over.

Ariana

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:54:49 +0800

All the portions of the clip are courtesy gaps I've experienced throughout the city. Who cares if it is cheesy? If it gets the point across, Shanghai will become a more pleasant city, that is the point. Not how you feel about it.

Les Izmore

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 01:30:29 +0800

The sequence on the airplane is gripping, and I really liked the hole in the ground bit.

James Creegan

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 12:56:55 +0800

I really like it! Makes me want to flag down a taxi then go trawling round the city for someone who really needs a lift / throw on some Kenny G and have a bath

EL JEFE

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 08:19:37 +0800

BEst part: 2.07 when the guy wipes the sweat from his head. So tough putting my bag away, oh, I'm exhausted.

ChinaLawBlog

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 06:27:55 +0800

It kind of reminds me of the Dharma video on the TV show "Lost."

MeSoHoly

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 01:59:19 +0800

I was so moved that I puked!

Helene

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 01:13:12 +0800

this video is a torture...