to rebuke his actions. Shuangshuang cries and leaves to report the crime to the party. This time Xiwang beats her to it and scolds his friend who finally sees the error of his ways. Thus the movie ends happily. Subplot of Guiying and Erchun Marriage and Family Context In 1950, the New Marriage Law substantially differed from previous versions in the Communist base areas and was similar to the Nationalist Civil Code of 1930. The reformed law marked the end of the “feudal marriage system” and of the “supremacy of man over woman”. Specifically, “it outlawed bigamy, concubinage, child betrothal, interference in widow remarriage, the exaction of money or gifts in conjunction with a marriage agreement, and compelling someone to marry against their will”. Arranged marriage, though it still occurred in the rural areas during the Mao period thanks to inexperienced village leaders who were preoccupied with land reform campaigns, was less popular as the Marriage Law instead promoted choice between a couple and no parental interference. Plot Guiying was the daughter of another Sun family in the commune, and was close with Shuangshuang. At the beginning of the film, Guiying and Erchun were getting close, as people in the commune often teased them as well. However, Guiying’s parents had always fancied for her a life in the city, and arranged for Guiying to marry comrade Wang, who worked in the city. When Guiying learned about the match, she was too embarrassed to meet comrade Wang herself and tell him she was interested in someone else. So Guiying asked Shuangshuang to meet up with him and convey her thoughts. After Shuangshuang passed on Guiying’s message to Wang, he did not show any disrespect or appear offended. Instead, Wang showed immense understanding and support for Guiying’s own will in choosing her partner and said that the parents should not have too much control over their children’s marriage since the era was different. The portrayal of Guiying in the film perfectly embodied a young girl’s changed experience under the marriage reform. For one thing, Guiying was able to reject a match arranged by her family, even though she did not dare to do it herself. Similarly, comrade Wang also depicted the support for the new marriage law from a male perspective. By illustrating both Guiying and comrade Wang, the film strived to deliver a message of marriage equality from both men and