IDFA: Old Men

When a man gets old in China, he earns the title of Lao. Lao Liu, Lao Cao and Lao Song, along with a dozen others, are portrayed in Lina Yang’s 1999 film Old Men. Retired and in their 70s and 80s, they gather every afternoon on a side walk in their Beijing neighbourhood. They move slowly but talk fast, lamenting the ageing process and the approach of death. Usually, they laugh with resignation: the cost of healthcare is bogus, they are neglected by their children, and a fellow old man has passed away.

Besides filming the street meetings, Yang also places the camera in the elderly men’s homes. One lives on his own and speaks enthusiastically about his pet cricket and the half bottle of beer that fills him up. Another carries on bickering with his wife, but—when she gets sick—takes care of her in silence.

Summer turns into winter. In brief scenes, Chinese New Year is celebrated, and one of the old men dies. The rest of the group express joy when they see each other. They continue their daily chatter, knowing the inevitable is around the corner for all of them.