The Story of Qiu Ju
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Movie Reviews of The Story of Qiu Ju
Movie Review: Spectacular But Simple Quixotic Tale
Summary: 5 Stars
Zhang Yimou masterfully reveals the essence of the dynamics at work in Chinese society and the impact of traditional culture and modern day politics on the lives of individual citizens and families in China. Whether you support the quixotic quest of Qiu Ju and her sidekick Meizi (translation: younger sister) or not you will fall in love with the sincerity, purity and simplicity of their hearts. These qualities (among others) that endear so many of the real people whom we ("foreigners"/non-Chinese) meet, while living in the People's Republic of China, to us are represented with amazing clarity and realism. The story and plotline are very (almost too) simple; but the character development, and presentation of village, city, and district politics in China and the vast differences between people's lives in those settings is so interesting and intriguing that the movie will keep you amused, interested, and excited, and have you wishing to see more as the credits start rolling at the end of the movie. This was one of the few movies that actually had me feeling as though I was back in China among so many wonderful friends, sights, and smells, and re-experiencing the oddly comfortable sense of chronic culture shock. I would recommend this movie to anyone who truly wants to better understand our brothers' and sisters' situations in China and to have your heart and mind opened and broadened. The movie is spoken in the Shaanxi dialect of Chinese (although I could understand much of it with my limited fluency in Mandarin) and subtitled in English. Even though it is really a drama many of the comical and sweet interpersonal situations in this movie will have you laughing out loud as you learn to see into the hearts of the characters and look upon the vast cultural differences with more respect, compassion, and understanding. I am happy to own this movie and plan to share it with others who are open-minded enough to consider and appreciate what this fine work of art represents.Movie Review: startling denouement highlights cultural divergency
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Story of Qiu Ju" features a very recognizable cultural stock figure. Gong Li plays the wife of a man who has been injured by a local official. While they are offered a small settlement, Qiu Ju refuses to accept it and so, basically, takes on the system. This is Silkwood or Phillip Seymour Hoffman taking on the tobacco industry or Mr. Smith in Washington or on and on and on. We all know this character, the plucky underdog who refuses to give up and who, through grit and determination and with an unshakeable conviction in the rightness of their cause fight overwhelming odds, never giving up until finally, at the very end, truth and justice triumph. The faceless bureaucrats lose and our hero carries the day. But this movie was made in China. They also know this character but they view this person in a completely different light. In Chinese society this person is "The Troublemaker." They don't know when to stop. They don't recognize the good that people are trying to do them. They don't appreciate the positions of others. In "The Story of Qiu Ju," the progressively more important officials that take time out of their busy schedules to hear out Qiu Ju are portrayed sympathetically. They listen. They want to help. They extend themselves (one of the highest actually squires Qiu Ju around in his limo, helping her find her way in an unfamiliar city.) In the end, and I don't want to give away too much, Qiu Ju herself is made to confront the fundamental error of her ways and she profoundly regrets the trouble she has caused. I watched this movie with my wife, who is Chinese and at a certain point we both knew how the movie was going to end: I was shocked and she was bored. Enjoy it.
Movie Review: Another brilliant window into China
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been impressed by all the films that I have seen directed by Zhang Yimou. In his films I not only have learned a great deal about China but have also been reminded or instructed about universal truths.
"The Story of Qiu Ju" brings the viewer into rural China and the perspective of a farming and tradition-minded populace interacting with Communist governance, including the limitations on child-bearing, the police and legal system, and the new, growing urban culture. I have a richer and I suspect accurate impression of China as a result of Zhang Yimou's intelligent artistry.
Alongside this almost documentary-like (yet superior to any documentary I can think of) portrayal of contemporary China, the director also presents a deeply moving and instructive account of the consequences of harmful human behaviors, behaviors that most of us (all of us?) indulge in frequently with little thought to the pain we are causing those around us. In Qui Ju the circumstances are comic and would remain so did we not see how sadly they play out at the film's end. A refusal by the village leader to apologize for hurting a man coupled with an equally stubborn refusal by the man's wife Qiu Ju to let go of her grievance bears bitter fruit for all concerned.
It is not the stuff of major tragedy but rather the expression of real, every day minor tragedies that makes "The Story of Qiu Ju" so poignant and powerful. See this film to learn more about China, but see it also to get a fresh vision of the sorrow of missed opportunities when people fail to forgive.
Movie Review: A Masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
The story is well told in many of the other reviews--Qiu Ju's husband has taunted the village chief who retaliated and kicked her husband in the groin and ribs. She is a peasant who undertakes a quest through the Chinese system of officials and courts, from village to city, seeking to compel the village chief to apologize. He turns out not to be a bad man, and most of the people--including the officials--are good people throughout the movie. There are many realistic pictures of people and village and city life in northwest China, and the story is compelling and interesting. What would be justice for this case? How does "losing face" affect these people? Is she right to do what she is doing? Unlike other reviewers, I was actually impressed with the quality of the justice system as portrayed, and her rights and ability to pursue one appeal after another, coupled with the practical nature of the remedies ordered by the officials and judges. There are some real twists at the end, as the viewer bounces from one surprise to another. The ending will make you think about Qiu Ju and this movie for a long time--it was already a great movie before the ending. Gong Li is a great actress, and Yimou Zhong is a great director. I now plan to see all their movies. This one also has humour--you will really be amused by the scene following where the peasants are told to dress like city people so as to avoid being the targets of criminals. This movie was the only movie added to our list of books to read before a Princeton University trip to China this summer. I am so glad.Movie Review: This is a wonderful, realistic film about modern rural China
Summary: 5 Stars
I have seen this film many times and have used it to teach American high school students about rural China today. When I first saw it, I thought the story was funny, quirky and well acted, especially by Gong Li. Now that I have been to China several times (not in tour groups) and have had a chance to see some of rural China shown my by my new Chinese friends, I can appreciate how well Zhang Yimou has portrayed both the rural countryside and the bureaucracy that runs China today. It seems that everywhere you go in China today, there are large numbers of people in uniforms acting official. In many cases I had no idea what their duties were. In this film the government offices always seem full of people petitioning the government for something, just as is Qiu Ju. Gong's portrayal of her is so laid back and unglamorous that she seems very real. I credit her acting skills with carrying the part off so well,so far as it is from her normal roles. This film makes you laugh a lot, but also just stare in wonder as the Chinese countryside and cities roll out before Qiu Ju- and you. The wonderful repetition of the bicycle ride out of her village on every new trip is a great image, the equivalent of saying "here we go again!" This movie is worth renting, but after you do so, you may want to buy it, as I did.