 It is adapted from a novel by Zhou Daxin, "The Fragrant Oil Mill by the Lake of Scented Souls" ().The film is adapted and directed by Xie Fei and tells the story of a woman in a small village in Hebei who runs a small sesame oil business that becomes unexpectedly successful, but who then uses her money to buy for her mentally disabled son a peasant bride.The film won the Golden Bear for Best Film at the 43rd Berlin International Film Festival in 1993, a prize it shared with Ang Lee's "The Wedding Banquet".