It’s unclear whether the director is young or if it’s intentional, but The Crossing gives the audience a sense of detachment even during the most vital action, as if each character is just “passing through”. The most impressive part of the movie is the “brotherhood” Peipei felt in the smuggling gang.
Many years ago, I was invited by a friend to participate in a “cooking exchange,” where a dozen people took turns cooking in an apartment, judging each other and eating together, and the lively atmosphere is still unforgettable. Of course, as the event progressed, it became clear that this was not just a weekend party, but that each of the “brothers and sisters” was also an Amway distributor. Although I never contacted them again, I still believe that the enthusiasm I felt that day was not just about sales.
As Xiong Peiyun writes in his book Rediscovering Society, “Civil society is a good thing,” and whether for Peipei, young people involved in direct marketing, or older individuals “working for” health care companies, there is an urgent need for a healthy civil society. Sometimes people take risks or get stuck in the mud just to get recognition and respect when they should have better options.