The right perpetrator I try to portray is a power machine in the depths of society, hidden and operational.
In Jiangsu and Zhejiang dialects, “Suofen” means dried rice noodles that are fragile and easy to break.
I asked a programmer friend to bring me some Suofen without a sophisticated package and protection measures from Hangzhou to Beijing, and help me to record the whole process. From the moment he bought the Suofen to the moment I received it, every step of the long journey was recorded with a camera. From another perspective, Suofen experienced walking, taking the elevator/escalator, taking a taxi, passing the security check, and taking a flight.
Since my friend is only an amateur cameraman, I didn’t plan any requirements about structure, composition, and storyline. The purpose is to observe through a unique and commonly-neglected angle and to be aware of the existence of Suofen. It is also a way to reflect modern life and the observation of the national system. For example, we can sense the contradiction between an efficient modern lifestyle and the strict safety checks of the innocent “Suofen". Meanwhile, the video, as a media product, also captured some unremarkable details (like buildings and fashions) in this Information Explosion Age.