The first feature film from Badou Zhao, Crossing a Dawn, is a thing Hollywood has failed to deliver in a damn long time: a charming, thoughtful romantic comedy rooted in the cultural milieu of the day. Crossing a Dawn employs humanity’s obsessions with social media, smartphones, animated avatars, and emoji talk to great and savage comic timing. This is the most confident and wonderful first film I’ve seen in a long time, dear reader. Permit me 420 words to tell you why.
First, there are the cute aspects. Crossing a Dawn’s log line tells us this film starts with a meet-cute, and Zhao absolutely delivers on that one. Xu Quiu (Sichun Ma) mistakes Chen Yuzhou (Edward Chen) for her date, as he’s wearing the identical brown jacket the much older man seeking to meet her possesses. After Yuzhou defends Quiu from the older man clearly looking to score another one-night stand, they have a loopy conversation which ends with a bike vs. running race. This entire sequence at the open is utterly charming. Ma and Chen have easy chemistry, and it’s a joy watching them discuss ideas, contemporary notions of romance, and generally exchange barbs. Crossing a Dawn is written in the vernacular of today. So while Ma and Chen converse in Chinese, it’s a laconic, sweet version. It’s much easier to follow for this American’s ear. I have learned many Chinese terms from Crossing a Dawn. It’s quite fantastic when a film affords you such an opportunity.
Xu Quiu (Sichun Ma) and Chen Yuzhou (Edward Chen) laugh arm in arm in a club in Crossing a Dawn.
“…Quiu and Yuzhou discover profiles of old exes and undesirables still looking for connection on the app.”
The conversation concerning the hookup app Tinder, which transpires later in a club, is hysterical. Particularly delightful is when Quiu and Yuzhou discover profiles of old exes and undesirables still looking for connection on the app. There is a playfulness exhibited which I have not seen out of Hollywood in quite some time. Crossing a Dawn roots its humor in the banality of social media usage. There is a profound and universal quality to the dorky, somewhat idiotic views of 20-somethings. Zhao is wise to set the tone of Crossing a Dawn in the absolute sense of silliness that courtship in the digital age embodies.
In Crossing a Dawn, Beijing becomes a character. This, dear reader, is one of the hallmarks of a great comedy. It’s of both the time and the place. Crossing a Dawn confidently demonstrates the absurdities modern life revels in, with a specific focus on present-day Beijing. When Yuzhou sings a current pop classic for Quiu’s delight, he only manages it because he’s drowned out the world by putting in his earbuds. As Quiu and Yuzhou overhear a fellow recording a breakup message in the recording booths people use for fun, we get the schmaltz that should also exist in a romantic comedy. While Crossing a Dawn is assuredly hilarious and snarky, what really anchors such films is the tender, emotional moments the couple experiences.
Crossing a Dawn is a sweet and delightful surprise. I loved every minute of it. Truly, dear reader, I have felt starved for such genre delights. It’s been a few years since I have reviewed such a delightful comedy. I suspect you’re equally deprived of such entertainment as Hollywood continues to make superhero and other massive tentpole films. Seek out Crossing a Dawn. It’s as comforting as a bowl of chicken noodle soup.
For screening information, visit the Crossing a Dawn official website.
"…as comforting as a bowl of chicken noodle soup"
