A poster for Mr. Six Photo: CFP

"Living in cities like Beijing - where everything is so rushed, so chaotic - we forget about that code. Movies have a responsibility to show everybody that code; to tell us not to forget it too soon and that we'd better keep it," said director Guan Hu, sitting down with the Global Times for an interview about his upcoming film Mr. Six. 

This code is one Guan believes many Chinese used to live by, but have now forgotten: a code of principles and etiquette.

Even if one hits rock bottom, he explains, they still have a line that no one should cross. If their dignity is trampled upon, they will fling caution to the wind to stand up for themselves.

This code is the very same one by which the main character of Mr. Six lives. A retired Beijing gangster who comes into conflict with a new generation of gangsters, Six and his adherence to this code despite the changing times reveals the conflicting values that belong to different generations in China.

Although the movie's Chinese title Lao Pao'r refers to criminals that are frequently sent to jail in the Beijing dialect, it is also a title of respect as gangsters were often admired and had a certain amount of power in certain areas of Beijing.

"Lao pao'r refers to those who doesn't follow the mainstream. He's more than a hooligan, he is provoking and defiant," Guan said, who also helped write the script for the film.

"It's a compliment. Those who excel in a field, like rock'n'roll lao pao'r Cui Jian, is this type of person."

However, in today's world these people are no longer as respected as they once were, and the principles that they once clung to are being challenged and looked down upon by a younger generation.

Dignity is something that Guan felt he wanted to depict, especially dignity in a society where many things are lost amongst rapid change.

"We've changed too fast over the past 30 to 40 years. Accomplishing things that others took 100 years to accomplish, something was bound to go wrong. A major problem is that ordinary people are being forgotten, being trampled upon."

Feng Xiaogang in Mr. Six Photo: Courtesy of Joy Pictures

Like a 'boss'

While the film is scheduled to hit domestic screens on Christmas Eve, it has already grabbed a lot of attention overseas.

Screened at the Venice and Toronto film festivals in September, it won positive reviews from those who saw it.

The Hollywood Reporter called the film: "Densely structured with a dozen vivid characters and a memorably nuanced central performance by Beijing writer-director-actor Feng Xiaogang, it has much to admire. Still, with its devil-may-care switching between serious, comic and surreal scenes, and much of the comedy being broadly Chinese, it's not the easiest film to cozy up to. The two-hour-plus running time will make itself felt even on well-intentioned art house audiences."

Meanwhile, at the Golden Horse Film Awards that just ended in Taiwan in November, Feng won the Best Actor Award for his depiction of Six.

"I felt that his acting had nothing to do with performing. He was 'acting' exactly the way he is," Guan said, explaining that he felt Feng couldn't have been more suited for the role.

As a renowned director in his own right, Feng has made several influential films. Although he has had cameo appearance in some comedies before, no one ever expected him to step into the shoes of a lead character.

According to Guan, if you were to describe everyone in the film in just one word, the word for Feng would be "boss." 

"It's not a quality that you can pretend you have, it comes from your very bones. His devotion to this film and his professionalism as an actor were greater than many professional actors I know."

Guan said he hopes after watching the film, audiences will find other Beijingers like Feng at Houhai, a major Beijing location featured in the film.

Director Guan Hu Photo: CFP

Comedy and drama

Guan loves to depicting very complicated and serious dramatic situations in comedic ways. Yet this style doesn't click with everybody. His previous films Cows, Design of Death and The Chef, The Actor and the Scoundrel all received mixed reviews.

However, Guan explained that this is not something he sets out to do on purpose. It's just that he has a natural fondness for drama and comedy even though they are quite different from each other.

The story of Mr. Six was inspired by his own experiences growing up among Beijing's back alleyways.

In the movie, the conflict between Six and his son is a major storyline that propels the film forward.

Guan said that this relationship was very similar to the one he had with his father - veteran actor Guan Zongxiang.

He believes the dominating paternal culture in China leads to frequent clashes between father and son.

"It becomes more severe the older a kid grows, but in the end they will reconcile. Just like how I reconciled with my father after I had a child," Guan said.

Although taking on a unique part of Beijing culture, Guan says he wasn't trying to focus on the city, but rather tell the story of someone who happens to live in the capital.

"Movies should present the unique lives of people in China. I've tried to record the changes that are happening nowadays. I hope that in 50 years it will still have some value."
Newspaper headline: Capital gangster