UNKNOWN PLEASURES (Ren xiao yao)

This earlier film by the writer/director of THE WORLD looks at teenage slackers who smoke, sit in pool halls, ride a motorcycle, try to talk to girls and even women, watch TV, and generally waste all their time in mindless inactivity. They are almost charming in their inarticulateness and shy bravado. As with all of Jia Zhang-Ke’s films, the cinematography, composition, and pacing are masterful. -- Chale Nafus