Shan zha shu zhi lian

Zhang Yimou returns to a more basic form of film-making in this touching story of innocent love from China's Cutural Revolution era. Very strong performances add substance to an otherwise simple story of young lovers burdened by societal difficulties in their efforts to be together. Ms. Zhou is very good in her role as a young, innocent woman who meets a special boy, Shawn Dou, amid the turbulence of China's revolutionary years. Both girl and boy are sent to the country-side to labor under Mao's crazed design for social re-ordering. The film does not focus so much on the madness of the times as on the fear of being labeled politically incorrect which, coupled with the socially conservative norms of traditional China, serve to encumber the innocent desire to be together. A slow but nicely filmed story of heartache and heartbreak.

This movie made me cry so hard. I never believed true and pure love existed until I saw this movie. As everyone says, Movies don't show reality but movies are inspired from and by reality. I hope this type of love still exists in 2024. I hope I find one. But not with this sad ending.

The actors have done an incredible job like the best of best. They touched my soul and I cannot imagine what she went through. It's truly hard.

And now I know what you do for love. The movie's quotes, scenes, scripts, acting, casting everything was so good. Why didn't I find this earlier? Maybe I wouldn't have understood. But I do now. And I'm happy I did.

If you could, read the book after watching this movie.

I love Chinese cinema and without doubt this was a finely crafted movie BUT I just didn't find it particuarly engaging. It's a love story and very little else. Some parts made me reflect on Communist China and the difficulty of navigating a relationship under a regime where so much needs to be kept secret, which can interfere with the trust-forming process, but otherwise I couldn't find much else to explore. So if you want to go on the ride with them (which really just consisted of lots and lots and lots of superficially romantic moments) then fine, but I was looking for something more. And to have the utterly heartbreaking end for no apparent reason than to tear our hearts out was too heavy of a punchline for such a light setup.

Quietly moved, go to feel the innocence. The touching love almost made me cry. I believe many people will be moved.