This film tells a pretty straightforward story, yet the narrative, the storytelling, is ingenious. That, along with the highly convincing acting of the madman by Zhibing Li (surprisingly, a nobody with zero track record) and the subtle yet ambitious cinematography (and innovative use of drones in a black and white film) by Dan Shao, amounts to a classic nearly reaching the height of Confessions (2010) which I consider to be the epitome of analepsis.
Of course, to reach such a height, the story itself needs to hold weight, but Bangzi Melody doesn't fall short, as all the elements, on a domestic, local and even national level, that push our protagonist to madness are gradually revealed...and then some. The social pressure, indifference, and betrayal are shocking, and utterly chilling to the bone.
The sparse and careful use of color elements tip a hat to Schindler's List, but execution is a little rough and in my opinion doesn't entirely serve its purpose in all of the scenes where they're used, but in a blanket "Should color have been used in this film, yes or no", my answer would still be a "yes", as it heightens the atmosphere in a few critical scenes.
The film is very deliberate in recreating a rural village in China in the middle of nowhere, back in the 70s. Everything is old, the interior and exterior environments, the people and their thinking, their language, etc. Watchful as I am, I can't find anything to fault. If I really have to say, then the acting of some of the supporting actors may have been a little comical, but considering how bizarre some of the scenes were and the dark comedy delivered through the madman, that may have been intentional.
The literally people-eating fervor and political oppression during the Cultural Revolution is masterfully conveyed, and the tightly-knit miniature society of rural China starkly contrasts with the cowardice, selfishness, and ingratitude of the poorly educated peasants. This is a masterpiece.
