Ni xing ren sheng

Kinda realistic with the way they displayed some customers' behaviours. You may say "They won't act like that, etc..." but in reality, I, myself, have encountered such people, and lots of them saw themselves as gods and demanded others to obey them.

The film also successfully emphasised the main subject of each scene, using shades and colours, giving audiences the impression of how harsh the industry is, especially in the first half of the film.

But the largest disadvantage is they didn't go deeper into other side characters, mainly riders, aside from Big Black, Stingie, and Dashan.

One debatable thing is whether riders actually walked in and helped the restaurant owner or not. I would say that 40% of the time, they do, but only if the restaurant is packed with orders. It happens in some countries where people have sympathy for each other.

The last thing is that this is a film created in a country where the delivery industry is rapidly changing and growing, so it just depends on your nationality, and for me, who lives in a country like that, I would say that this film is realistic, giving me an insight into the mechanism of such a powerful industry.

I did not have any expectation about this. Nor any references about the movie, the director, the casts, the plot. Nope. I happened to played it this morning on Netflix and boy, it completely kept me stuck to it! I know it is going to be a predictable plot and story but it is perfectly shot, made, acted, edited.. very good production! I really enjoyed the pictures, the editing. It shows the craziness of the bike delivery life in Shanghai (?) perfectly. There are some over dramatic scenes and situation but all to me are acceptable and in line to the story. The 5 minutes closing credit is also very worth watching, do not pass it. I become more respect to the fact that the main actor is the director. He did a very good job.

A bitter beginning The film opens with a shocking blow: Cao Zhilui, an IT manager who has dedicated 11 years to a major tech corporation in Shanghai, is suddenly laid off. At 45, instead of being valued as a core employee, he becomes a casualty of the very optimization system he helped build. This is not just a personal tragedy but also an echo of China's infamous "Curse of 35"-a social stigma that pushes middle-aged workers out of the job market in favor of younger, cheaper, and more energetic labor.

From the office to the streets After countless failed attempts to secure new employment, Zhilui is forced to become a food delivery rider-a job that seems simple but is brutally unforgiving. The film exposes the relentless hardships of this work: constant KPI pressures, unfair customer ratings, climbing endless stairs in high-rises, battling traffic, and even risking road accidents. Despite long hours, his earnings are meager, while his dignity and pride are continuously eroded.

Spoiler Alert - A spiral of tragedy From being a respected manager, father, husband, and son, Zhilui gradually collapses. His father suffers a stroke and becomes bedridden, medical bills drain the family, his diabetes worsens, and the pressure of loans suffocates him. In moments of despair, he lashes out at his wife and even blames his ailing father. One of the film's most haunting scenes shows him trying to force a smile for a company campaign called "Smile Delivery," but what emerges is a twisted, pained grimace-earning him a suspension for failing the target. It is a raw portrait of humiliation and despair, a man crushed under responsibilities he can no longer bear.

Glimmers of light Yet, amidst the darkness, there are sparks of humanity. Fellow riders, gruff but kind-hearted, share advice and survival strategies. His wife, Xiao Ni, remains a pillar of strength-supporting him financially, emotionally, and refusing to abandon him even when he falters. With their encouragement, Zhilui begins to adapt. He uses his IT background to design a route-optimization app, "Master the Roads," which helps delivery workers navigate chaotic city layouts. The app gains recognition from management, seemingly offering him a new future-though at the same time, it hints at another cycle of exploitation, as corporations eye it as a tool to push workers harder.

A mirror to society The film is more than one man's struggle; it is a mirror reflecting the hidden costs of China's rapid digital economy. Workers are reduced to numbers, judged entirely by algorithms and customer ratings. Scenes of bloodied couriers rushing to complete deliveries despite injuries are searing indictments of a system that values efficiency above human dignity. Life Reverse resonates because it speaks for millions of ordinary laborers who are silenced and discarded by the modern workforce.

Flaws While powerful, the film at times leans heavily into tragedy, layering hardship after hardship in a way that may overwhelm viewers. The pacing drags in the middle as repetitive struggles dominate. The ending, in which Zhilui's app is embraced by the corporation, has been divisive: some see it as hopeful, others as a grim sign that exploitation will only intensify. This ambiguity, however, is what gives the film lasting impact.

Conclusion Ni Xing Ren Sheng is a raw, socially charged drama that forces its audience to confront the realities of unemployment, age discrimination, and the precarious gig economy. It is not a film of easy comfort, but one of sharp truths. With a heartbreaking lead performance and unflinching social commentary, it asks: In a society ruled by data and KPIs, how much is a worker's dignity worth? Tragic, urgent, and deeply human, it stands as one of the most significant social realist films in Chinese cinema in recent years.

If you have spent more than 2 days even as a tourist in China, chances are good you had a near-miss traffic accident with a "knight" in yellow-clad armour.

This movie gives us a closer look at the overlooked. In China's biggest cities, the yellow "knights" as they are lovingly called buzz around like bees. Always trying to take a shortcut and running a red light to make a quick buck, the service economy runs on poor non-registered workers risking their life for little pay.

Although thoroughly enjoyable, there's two aspects that hold this movie back slightly: first, the performances are good but the wife actress sticks out like a sore thumb. Poorly acted and poorer written still, it takes you out of the story every time she's on screen. Second, there's several parts where the movie really feels like a propaganda piece paid for by Kuai Di companies. Delivering bravely in the rain, to rooftops, to hospitals, all to become the "top driver" and save a kid with leukemia, it actually looks exactly like a popular Kaui Di ad that used to run on Chinese TV.

So it's 4/5 for this delivery.

The film has a great narrative arc, is very funny but really real, and gives a look at one section of China's hard workers: the food delivery riders.

Upstream is acted very well, and doesn't ever miss a beat in story development or comic timing. It's a great feel-good tale, too.

For a few years now, this profession hasn't been part of the gig economy as defined in the sense of such Western jobs that come with a lack of rights for employees.

In 2021, China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and other regulatory bodies mandated that local food delivery platforms provide drivers with a minimum wage, access to insurance, and improved working conditions. The order also required platforms to enroll delivery workers in social insurance programs.

China does listen to its people. China's food delivery giants Meituan and Ele.me are to impose mandatory rest breaks for delivery drivers to improve their health and safety.

The changes in policy come after a public outcry over a September incident when a 55-year-old delivery rider collapsed and died in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

China is a point of interest now of course and one way to glimpse into its society without actually visiting is to watch this movie. The layers of propaganda from the countries of the West about China are thick, but even this film, a comedy but also real, can dissolve a few.

This film helps us be less hateful and/or believing of the entire mass media with its constant negative framing of China. At the same time it's a ball watching it, a film so real we can feel it and relate, while laughing and shedding a tear too.