In Public
(Gong gong chang suo)

Waiting in train stations, marking time at bus stops and cigarette smoke. The heavy flow of traffic or the night-time bleakness of places of transit…: In Public crosses public places, shared spaces, where the impetuous movement of the world plays out. Times and places of transition, through which millions of people pass by; where – with a little luck or, failing this, heightened attention, singular encounters are forged. Made from location shots for Unknown Pleasures, this documentary offers an uncommon reading of familiar environments, with a camera that is not seeking but constantly discovering. It intertwines with Jia’s next film, creating scenes that echo and prolong one another. It gives us a unique view of what shapes a filmmaker’s thoughts. MM