19. UNDER|DOX 10-16 OKT

From the street, Li Eryang’s “Republic” is barely visible, a little room that appears to have been left as a tiny cavity between the surrounding houses. Despite its inconspicuous appearance from the outside, on the inside, it’s huge. A hiding place, a home base and an experiment all rolled into one. With lots of time and passion, scarves and coloured light, Eryang has created a free space for himself and his “Cosmic Bros”. Anyone who comes by becomes a citizen of a society with humanistic laws. The repressive social credit system of the People’s Republic is left at the door. With psychedelic music and a few mind-expanding drugs, hippiedom, capitalism and Xi Jinping can all be harmonised on a sofa and mattress.
The experiment needs reworking. Jin Jiang’s documentary shows the radical exit attempt of young adults as a tableau vivant: in the heart of Beijing, Chinese youngsters lounge and cuddle for their freedom. – Berlinale