In the bookstore scene, Xiao Ye tested her skills. By exploiting a loophole in another store's rules, she defeated the bookstore. This perfectly illustrates the internal contradictions of capitalism. Xiao Ye successfully stirred up internal conflict, buying the workers (the main characters) a chance to breathe.
This is also the significance of anti-monopoly. If a store has no competitors, it will eventually become too powerful and bully its customers, ruining their lives. But if there are several similar or related stores of equal standing, the lives of customers and workers will naturally be much better.
The bookstore rules state that books cannot be taken out of the store. If Lingling wants to leave the bookstore, she can only leave alone, leaving the book behind—but then she won't be able to draw on the blank book. Therefore, Lingling can only stay in the bookstore and keep drawing, while Xiaoye, Hongjie, and the others leave her behind to find a solution.
Someone asked: "Old Liu, Old Liu, Lingling clearly has a newbie protection period, why isn't this working? Is it a bug?"
All Lao Liu could say was:
No, no, no, don't underestimate the director. Every plot point he arranges has a deeper meaning.
We'll talk about Lingling's newbie protection period later. Let's first talk about the adventures of the main characters.
The main characters embark on a grand adventure through the streets, venturing into various establishments such as a roast duck restaurant, a barbershop, and an ice cream shop.
One of the rules of roast duck restaurants is that you must eat all the duck skin. If you don't, the owner will come out and skin you.
Holy crap! Isn't this just exploiting surplus value?!
You work eight hours a day (a duck). One day, your hand speed increases, and you finish your work in only seven hours, leaving you with one hour of your own time (a piece of duck skin).
Just then, the boss rushes in—will he praise you for improving your work efficiency? No, he'll just stare intently at that empty piece of duck skin you've left, and then skin you again (exploit you once more)!
As for the explosion of Mirror Mountain, that's even more interesting. The photos taken by the cameras in the photography studio become real things. This photographer likes to retouch photos, turning perfectly normal people into monsters; if the main characters are photographed by him, they're doomed. It's practically a blatant illustration of capitalism's alienation of people written into the dialogue: as long as capital is powerful enough, it can even alter reality.
However, even powerful capital ultimately perishes at its own pace. Doesn't that endlessly multiplying mountain of mirrors resemble the infinite reproduction of capitalism?
Powerful capital recklessly alters reality and alienates humanity, ultimately destroying itself through its own endless reproduction. Capital pursues infinite accumulation, and ultimately dies from infinite accumulation. Ironically, those mirrors are in a barbershop. Barbershops operate on a head-to-head basis. In other words, the capital at the head of the head is the greatest accelerator of capital's destruction.
The film's satire reaches its climax at this point.
The scene where Sister Hong is checking the scales is a discussion about solving the problem of capitalist exploitation: when a large store bullies its customers, is it possible to turn the tables?
have.
Sister Hong moved out of the Market Supervision Bureau. The existence of regulation is one of the reasons why capital dares not act recklessly.
There are so many metaphors and allusions like these that if I were to explain them all, Old Liu would have spoiled the entire movie. Seeing it for yourself will give you a much better understanding of the brilliance of these metaphors.
Then comes a major turning point. The main characters see the video in the video store, which leads to an argument and then a split. This is a microcosm of how capital instigates conflict among the workers and divides the lower classes. By using entertainment (videos) and the struggle for survival, it divides the working class, making it impossible for them to organize effective resistance.
As expected, the main characters parted ways and were quickly swallowed up by Happiness Street. This was precisely the tactic of capital to divide and conquer, defeating one by one. In the blink of an eye, only Xiao Ye and Huang Feizhang remained unassimilated.
Here, we need to explain in detail why only Xiao Ye and Huang Feizhang were not assimilated!
What is Xiaoye?
Students. Knowledge, theory.
Who is Huang Feizhang?
Brave warrior. Force.
Without Xiao Ye's leadership, Huang Feizhang ultimately failed to escape from Xingfu Street; but with Huang Feizhang's protection, Xiao Ye was able to escape!
An armed force without a clear theoretical framework is nothing but a disorganized mess; and even a theory needs the protection of a gun.
In contrast, the fat man represents a dreamer (addicted to the virtual world of anime and manga); while Sister Hong represents a capitalist aspirant (trying to open a breakfast shop to become new capital). Without the protection of force and theory, both of them quickly succumb to the world of capitalism.
As for Xiaoye, we can clearly see that she was once slightly corrupted by capitalism (for example, in the experiment with Lingling), but in the end, through repeated practice (adventures), she became determined to follow her own path.
In the film's ending, Xiao Ye blindfolds herself, signifying that she will no longer be seduced by the superficial glamour of capitalism and is determined to destroy the pedestrian street.
Here are two lines of dialogue that really capture the theme:
"This is not my universe" — "The capitalist world is not the right world";
"Rather than enjoying self-deceptive happiness in illusion, I would rather stand in the mud and look up at the real starry sky"—"Rather than enjoying the sugar-coated bullets of capitalism and willingly becoming a slave, I would rather blaze a trail and walk the arduous but correct path."
Xiao Ye used the same props from the pedestrian street to create a weapon that would destroy it. This also means that capitalism will ultimately be destroyed by its own internal contradictions—a very obvious point that needs no further explanation.
You've probably all seen the pirated videos and clips online. Even a three-year-old knows what the red seal, red lettering, and red flag represent, let alone a child.
Finally, Xiao Ye used red seals, red lettering, and red flags to awaken millions of toiling masses—no, the ghosts of the pedestrian street. "Force" embraced "theory," and "theory" united all forces that could be united. Free people rushed out of the pedestrian street and saw the real sun.
The real sun isn't as magnificent as the fake universe depicted on the pedestrian street, but it possesses real light and heat. Humanity's journey to explore the universe is still very, very long.
Okay, now let's address the two questions left unanswered in the video.
First question: Why is it necessary to describe cannon fodder in detail?
The three cannon fodder characters are: a beggar who escaped alone; a faceless cannon fodder who cooperated with the team, couldn't help but say "Save me," and then disappeared; and a wealthy cannon fodder character who is rich and whose mood changes faster than anyone else.
These three cannon fodder actually symbolize three groups among the masses.
The first group struggled alone, refusing to unite, thinking they could escape by fighting alone. In reality, the strength of a group is limited; it dissipates into thin air, leaving not even a trace, and thus they fail.
The second group, despite uniting other forces, became fearful and begged for mercy from the enemy (capital). They quickly softened and were devoured without a trace.
The third group, considering themselves part of the capitalist system, looks down on other people. They unsuspectingly embrace capital. But capital doesn't treat them like family; they're taken advantage of without question.
Second question: Why doesn't Lingling have a newbie protection period?
It's actually quite simple.
The new user protection period is for individual users.
In the world of capitalism, everything is capitalized and alienated. Lingling doesn't produce anything and can't create surplus value; she relies entirely on her parents. Therefore, in the pedestrian street, she is actually regarded as Sister Hong's appendage, Sister Hong's "asset"!
So, what do you think? After listening to Lao Liu's analysis, do you feel that Lao Liu's previous evaluation of "Happy Street" was quite appropriate?
Whether appreciated for its thrilling plot or pondered for its hidden meanings and metaphors, "Happiness Street" is truly a rare example of a Chinese film in the last decade that dares to speak its mind and criticize.
Demolition is more than just demolition; it's a revolution!
Shatter the old world and create a new one!
Such profound political metaphors, such sharp, subtle, and clever criticism; coupled with the brimming confidence and hope in the ending, the director's political ambitions are evident.
I don't know why Ye Chu chose to invest in and star in this film. Perhaps she's young and inexperienced, unable to grasp the film's metaphors. But given her past roles in anti-feudal works like *Yun Qing Ji* and films like *Tian Ban*, I personally lean towards the idea that she saw through it all, but was just playing dumb. After all, sometimes it's better to be oblivious!
As for the Easter eggs in the film, I personally believe that they were a compromise made by the film to pass censorship.
After all, this film is so profound, so dark, and so scathing that it will likely strike a chord with many people.
Perhaps some people are unwilling to see compromises in works of art, but if I say it this way, will everyone feel better?
The post-credits scene actually symbolizes the endless cycles of human history. Even if capitalism is overthrown this time, "Happy Street" will still return in the next cycle!
You see—if this interpretation is correct, then the central theme of the film is completely different. So, compared to this interpretation, isn't the "compromise" explanation above much easier to accept?
In conclusion, *Happy Street* is truly a rare masterpiece. Many details can only be understood by seeing and hearing them firsthand. It's no exaggeration to say that Lao Liu believes this is a film that should be memorized in its entirety.
Xiao Ye led people toward a new world, but upon opening their eyes, they realized that life was like a dream, and all the freedom, struggle, and universe in the dream could be contained in a single crystal the size of a peach pit.
Just like what the director wanted to express, it could only be wrapped in the shell of a comedy and a special effects fantasy film.
Will she continue to fight? Will she fall in one of the cycles, or will she fight forever in the crystals?
I think the director has already given us the answer at the end of the movie.
Hello everyone, this is Lao Liu, the fast-talking guy! If you support this video, please give Lao Liu a free like!
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