This film may be seen as a Chinese version of Taxi Driver, focusing on the daily life of one of the city′s many taxicab operators. One of China′s fifth generation directors, Ning Ying sees today′s China from a very critical perspective. I Love Beijing paints a paradoxical portrait of a city that can no longer be loved. Dezi is a foolish person who enjoys making easy money and womanizing. He is caught between the harsh reality and wishful dreams. The blaring radio constantly broadcasts its support for fulfilling materialistic desires, while college students are similarly brainwashed into seeking money and pleasure. Dezi, too, is a pleasure-seeker, yet the dark realities make his pursuit more difficult. One day his girlfriend is raped and murdered, gangs in broad daylight beat some people, and the homeless, without places to go, aimlessly roam the ruined streets. A shot of the streets of Beijing in the night captured by a tracking shot summarizes the subject of this film. Although a large crane stands atop an empty lot which used to host the past, for some reason, this new city seems to portend a distopian future. (Hur Moon-Young)