Excerpt: …a simple and sad story of a family torn apart by Mao Zedong’s Communist movement…The film’s final image is a testament to marital love and devotion.
Excerpt: Zhang Yimou returns to his more humble, socially conscious roots, reuniting with former muse Gong Li for an earnest, if rather underwhelming, adaptation of Yan Geiling’s The Criminal Lu Yanshi. While the historical significance of the story will resonate strongly with domestic audiences, too little context is given for its impact to travel into international markets, despite strong performances and big name appeal.
Excerpt: In structure and style it’s melodrama, reminiscent of emotional Douglas Sirk extravaganzas like Magnificent Obsession, with Gong in a role you can easily imagine Bette Davis doing in the ‘30s.