Fu rong zhen

This film caused quite a stir in China when it was first released. The hardline conservative commies opposed the release of this film and the pressure was so great that at the beginning, even the then paramount leader of China, Deng Xiao-ping could not prevent it from being banned.

When the order of banning came, the tickets for release was already sold and audience was enraged. Those conservative hardline commies, themselves were victims of Cultural Revolution, did not have the guts to face the angry public and it had to be the director, Mr. Jin Xie, came under public rage to apologize for the banning.

The film truely touched the nerves of commies, not only for what was infront of the camera, but also what was behind the scene, namely, its proposed releasing and banning. Those hardline commies who were once the victims of Cultural Revolution were in power after the end of that political movement, and as any dictators, once in power, no challenge could be and should be allowed, even if something describing the suffering themselves had experienced and detested.

It was a huge success when the ban was forced to be lifted, and the there was also a radio show based on the novel of the same name, which the film is based on. The small step forward in history seemed rather insignificant for people live in west, where liberty and democracy is taken for granted, but it was a landmark for those who lived under totalitarian rule. What happened when this film first released in China is the vivid example of greatness of this film, not only for what was infront camera, but also what happened behind the scene.

Hibiscus Town is about victimization, humiliation, and salvation in a small Chinese village before, during, and after the Cultural Revolution.

Its central character, born of a capitalist inn keeper, is victimized by the new Communist party director who is jealous of her beauty and success. From this tough beginning we watch her fall from grace in the village, lose everything that is dear, and face further humiliation with the arrival of the cultural revolution. Yet from this dark low we watch her find salvation in those around her and find something worth living for.

This all works to great success thanks to solid acting, directing, and a strong screenplay based on a popular novel. The film does seem a bit awkward at first, but I found it soon pulled me deeper into the story and characters then I had realized. By the second half I truly felt for the protagonists and their cause. The experience is further seasoned by authentic sets and very believable supporting performances, making the village an accessible setting.

Definitely worth a look. (8/10 stars)

A film filled with 3 (or 4) dimensional human beings undergoing pressures from life, from politics, and from internal drives. Beautifully developed, showing transformation of all the major characters.

A small town or village is shown before the Cultural Revolution hits them. There is love, romance, and small business operations, well-portrayed.

Then new characters show up representing the national and provincial leadership. They too act out their own needs in this societal context.

Finally, after the "Cultural Revolution" has passed, the characters resume their lives, but much has changed--and some things never change.

"The commendable cast also includes Zheng Zaishi's granary director Gu Yanshan, a war hero wound in the front line, yet he must inure humiliation, calumny and disillusion in the peace time, Zheng emotively personifies a benevolent figure with all his might, his scenes of crapulous reminiscence and ebullition is among the most puissant. As for the two leads, Liu Xiaoqing doesn't shy away from the cynosure of Xie Jin's attentive camera, she comports herself with adequate dignity and dithery. Her Yuyin is spunky in the first half, who wears the pants in the family, then stricken down and devolves into a damsel in distress in the second half, passively accepts her kismet until gets revitalized by a new man in her life."

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This is one of those film that makes it right through your heart. I saw this mowie a couple of years ago on tv, and since I have not been able to forget it.

The scene is a distant village in rural China, the time is the cultural revolution. Politics, local power-struggles,love and humiliation goes hand in hand and no person in the end of the film is the person in the start.

Absolutely an amazing film about a difficult subject. But everything the director/writer does succeeds. This movie does it all without doing a big fuss about it. It just works. See it if you can, but I have never found it on video anywhere. Not in China, not on the internet, so where?