You are here:
The Crossing

The Crossing

2018

Director

Bai Xue

Runtime

99 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Studying in Hong Kong but living in Shenzhen, Peipei has spent 16 years in her life travelling between these two cities. To realize the dream of seeing snow in Japan with her bestie, Peipei joins a smuggling gang and uses her student identity to smuggle iPhones from Hong Kong to Mainland. Her family life and friendships begin to fall apart. The daily life of Peipei starts to get out of control.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.1/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film lacks explicit depictions of non-heteronormative identities or same-sex intimacy. While the protagonist shares a close bond with a 'bestie,' there is no evidence of queer identity or a critique of heteronormativity.

Gender Representation

Fair

Peipei serves as a strong female protagonist navigating male-dominated criminal circles. She demonstrates significant agency and survival instincts, avoiding submissive tropes by actively driving the smuggling plot.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The story offers a localized study of Cantonese and Mainland Chinese identities. It avoids homogeneity by focusing on the specific cultural friction between residents of Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The narrative prioritizes social realism over traditional morality. It frames the protagonist's criminal descent as a response to systemic economic pressures rather than simple villainy.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There are no visible or mentioned depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities within the narrative.

Strengths

  • Strong female agency through a protagonist navigating dangerous, male-dominated criminal landscapes.
  • Nuanced exploration of regional identity and the cultural friction between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
  • A realistic portrayal of how systemic economic pressures impact individual and family stability.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of explicit LGBTQ+ representation or exploration of non-heteronormative identities.
  • Absence of characters or narratives addressing physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
  • Limited engagement with multi-ethnic or broader global cultural perspectives.

AI Analysis

The Crossing is a gritty, socio-economic drama centered on the friction between geographic borders and economic disparity. It explores how the pressure of living between Hong Kong and Shenzhen can dismantle personal and familial stability. The film's strength lies in its portrayal of a female protagonist exercising agency within a high-stakes criminal environment. It uses the protagonist's pursuit of a personal dream to challenge conventional moral and legal structures. However, the film lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities and disabilities. While it provides a deep dive into regional Chinese identities, it does not engage with broader multi-ethnic or intersectional narratives.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.