AURELIA DOCHNAL reviews Xiao Wu (1997), Jia Zhangke’s first feature film. As the camera aimlessly ambles around a dilapidated city, disjointed layers of popular tunes hang in the air. A karaoke bar; a locally-made stereo, one of the best on the market, blasts in the street; a lighter hums an electric rendition of “Für Elise.” The music in Jia Zhangke’s first feature film, Xiao Wu … Continue reading “Xiao Wu”: The Cacophony of Alienation