made them very cautious and aware of the need to ban any future films that tried to touch on the same topics. Despite being officially banned, the film was widely available on video in China upon its release and was even shown in some theaters. Reception Critical response To Live received critical acclaim and various critics selected the film in their year end lists. There is, among film critics, almost a consensus that To Live is not merely a lament of difficult times, nor a critique of the evils of the totalitarian system, but more “an homage to the characters’ resilience and heroism in their odyssey of survival.” Some scholars further argue that the era’s hostile and chaotic environment is not the story itself, but simply serves as a stage for the story. Accolades Year-end lists 4th - Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times. 5th - Janet Maslin, The New York Times 5th - James Berardinelli, ReelViews 9th - Michael MacCambridge, Austin American-Statesman Honourable mention - Mike Clark, USA Today Honourable mention - Betsy Pickle, Knoxville News-Sentinel Awards and nominations Other accolades Time Out 100 Best Chinese Mainland Films - #8 Included in The New York Times' list of The Best 1000 Movies Ever Made in 2004 included in CNN's list of 18 Best Asian Movie of All Time in 2008 The film ranked 41st in BBC's 2018 list of The 100 greatest foreign language films voted by 109 film critics from 43 countries around the world. Symbolism Food Dumplings: Youqing’s lunch box with dumplings inside was never opened. These dumplings reappeared as an offering on Youqing’s tomb repeatedly. Rather than being eaten and absorbed, the dumplings are now lumps of dough and meat standing as reminders of a life that has been irreparably wasted. Mantou (steamed wheat bun): When Fengxia is giving birth, Doctor Wang, the only qualified doctor, passed out due to eating too many buns after a long time of hunger. Thus, he was unable to save Fengxia’s life. The mantou, meant to ease his hunger, rehydrated and expanded within his stomach, shrunken with starvation. “Filling stomach” ironically leads to the death of Fengxia. The buns did not save a life - it is an indirect killer of Fengxia. Noodles: Youqing used his meal as revenge for his sister. Although wasted in a literal sense, they are not wasted in Youqing’s mind. Food is not merely for “filling