Happy Times (2002)
Directed by Zhang Yimou

After establishing himself with a series of lushly-filmed, epic period pieces 
(ITAL Red Sorghum END, ITAL Raise the Red Lantern END, ITAL To Live END, 
etc.) director Zhang Yimou's last three films have focused on everyday people 
in contemporary China and been shot in an unobtrusive, naturalistic manner. 
Like 1999's ITAL Not One Less END, ITAL Happy Times END criticizes the 
Chinese regime's capitalist reforms and the accompanying development of 
capitalist interpersonal relations.

ITAL Happy Times END starts out following a retired bachelor on his quest to 
find a wife. It's clear his latest prospect is only interested in getting 
money for herself and her spoiled son--and getting rid of her blind step-
daughter. Our bachelor pretends to be a rich manager at a rich luxury hotel 
and agrees to hire the step-daughter. He and his out-of-work friends build a 
fake massage parlor for her in an abandoned factory and then pretend to be 
upscale clients. At first they do this to keep up the bachelor's charade, but 
then they become attached to the girl and can't bear to send her back to her 
exploitative step-mother. Of course, this can't last for long, and doesn't.

The ITAL deus ex machina END ending in ITAL Not One Less END told the 
audience that happy endings are the rule in film, but not today's China. 
Similarly, the only happy times in ITAL Happy Times END require elaborate 
deceptions; reality is decidedly less cheerful. Unlike the ITAL Not One Less 
END, however, ITAL Happy Times END can be quite funny, and the bachelor's 
resourceful friends have a warm camaraderie.

The careful viewer can also pick up some concrete criticisms of contemporary 
China, such as the fact that the bachelor and his able-bodied friends are out 
of work (and not getting any pension) while a local factory stands idle.