ðə wˈɛbsaɪtz kɹˈɪɾɪkəl kənsˈɛnsəs stˈeɪts: "dˈʌzənt ɹˈiːtʃ ðə hˈaɪts ʌv ʒˈæŋ jˈɪmuːz bˈɛst, bˌʌt ðɪs ɪz stˈɪl ɐ hˈɑːɹtwɔːɹmɪŋ tˈeɪl ʌv lˈʌv ænd fɚɡˈɪvnəs fɹʌmðɪ ɐklˈeɪmd tʃaɪnˈiːz dᵻɹˈɛktɚ".
The website's critical consensus states: "Doesn't reach the heights of Zhang Yimou's best, but this is still a heartwarming tale of love and forgiveness from the acclaimed Chinese director".