“This a movie about being different in the most developing country in the world today, in which everybody seems to be obsessed with social advancement and the accumulation of prosperity. Beijing Bubbles is a portrait of five bands in their everyday life: of the punk band Joyside, the girls band Hang On The Box, the blues band Sha Zi, the metal band T9 and the rock band The Subs. They are very different in age and style but they share the same attitude: they have retired from the world in which they grew up. These musicians are melancholic, dreamers and disillusioned, they are not part of a rebelling youth movement, they are not interested in political protest. The passion and the sense of humour of these musicians reminded us of times in which punk in Europe was quite a big deal. We had the feeling as if punk had moved to the other side of the globe.”

Screenplay Susanne Messmer, George Lindt
Fotografia / Photography George Lindt, Lucian Busse
Editing Lucian Busse
Music Joyside Hang on the Box, New Pants Sha Zi T9
Cast Bian Y Jan, SJ Jing, Wang Yue, Xiao Gan Suen Jing, Yilina, Peng Lei
Production Ifblingslied Records Nordic Premiere
Year of production 2005
Running time 85’

Susanne Messmer

Born 1971, she studied literature, philosophy and sociology. She works as a music journalist, literary critic and reporter for different newspapers and magazines. She is one of the founders of the record company Flittchen Records. Beijing Bubbles is her first documentary.

George Lindt

Born 1971, he runs the independent label Lieblingslied Records since 15 years and works as a television reporter. Beijing Bubbles is his second long documentary.

Lucian Busse

Born 1966, he founded the art project alien tv #1, a live cinema concert show. He works as a freelance editor. With his own video production company he produces video clips and documentaries. This is his first long documentary.