Written and directed by Liu Jian, Have a Nice Day is a stylishly animated neo-noir tale about a robbery gone wrong in a small town in Southern China. Having stolen a bag load of money from his boss, Xiao Zhang hopes to use the cash to fix his fiancee’s failed plastic surgery, however, news soon starts to spread fast and over the course of one night a variety of characters all start to look for Xiao Zhang and the missing one million yuan.
Told over the course of four chapters with a series of interconnecting stories, Have a Nice Day is a bold second feature film from Liu Jian who is able to once again, provide some interesting social and political commentary on the state of modern China. A black comedy that doesn’t hide from satirizing China’s lust for money, we’re able to get an unflinching portrayal of how capitalistic greed does nothing but breed superficial relationships that are given up on a whim. With economic status being a common thread that ties all these characters together, the belief among many is that the stolen cash will help fulfil their every wish and desire. Whether it be escaping to a resort called Shangri-La or using the funds to pursue their childhood dream of becoming a world-famous inventor, life has other plans for these bunch of misfits.
Having taken three years to complete, with the vast majority being done by Liu himself, there’s a labour of love that can be felt throughout its 77-minute running time. Much like with all the best directors in the industry, there’s one clear defining voice that gives the film a real impetus to what it’s trying to convey. Whether it be China’s rapid urbanisation destroying traditional Chinese sensibilities or the way that money doesn’t ensure prosperity, it’s all there littered amongst many of its characters and backdrops.
The animation is exquisitely detailed with minor actions and subtle movements giving it an almost hallucinatory feel. The characters themselves almost seem to be bursting out from their dreary industrial surroundings thanks to the contrasting use of colour which constantly pops from the screen. The delicate use of sound effects, on the other hand, is able to perfectly capture the mise-en-scène with the frequent use of ringtones, political announcements and heavy machinery all evoking a fast-paced economy which refuses to sleep.
Have a Nice Day is a film which is drenched in real issues and having battled censorship in China, it has faced many hurdles along the way. Having to withdraw from the Annecy International Animated Film Festival last year after much pressure from the Chinese government, many festival-goers were left feeling disappointed. All was not lost however as it did end up winning the Best Animation Feature at the 54th Golden Horse Awards whilst also receiving high praise from acclaimed Chinese director, Jia Zhangke.
It’s clear to see how Liu Jian is quickly making a big mark in the animation industry and his commitment to animating is nothing short of remarkable. Having animated almost the entirety of the film, whilst producing such a sharp, witty and insightful script, one does have to look on in astonishment at how such a momentous feat could be achieved. So if you’re looking for a film that paints a contemporary picture of modern-day China whilst disguising itself as a Tarantino-esque crime story, then look no further than here!
HAVE A NICE DAY / CERT: 15 / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: LIU JIAN / STARRING: YANG SIMING, CAO KOU, MA XIAOFENG, ZHU CHANGLONG / RELEASE DATE: MARCH 23RD
