To Live (1994)

After Fugui and Jiazhen lose their personal fortunes, they raise a family and survive difficult cultural changes during 1940s to 1970s China.

Director:

Yimou Zhang

Writers:

Wei Lu (screenplay), Hua Yu (novel)

Stars:

You Ge, Gong Li, Ben Niu

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
You Ge	...	Xu Fugui
Gong Li	...	Xu Jiazhen
Ben Niu	...	Town Chief
Wu Jiang	...	Wan Erxi
Deng Fei	...	Xu Youqing
Tao Guo	...	Chunsheng
Tianchi Liu	...	Xu Fengxia, as an adult
Zongluo Huang	...	Fu Gui's Dad
Yanjin Liu	...	Fu Gui's Mom
Dahong Ni	...	Long'er
Lian-Yi Li	...	Sgt. Lao Quan
Cong Xiao	...	Xu Fengxia, as a teenager
Lu Zhang	...	Fengxia, as a child
Yan Su

Storyline

Fugui and Jiazhen endure tumultuous events in China as their personal fortunes move from wealthy landownership to peasantry. Addicted to gambling, Fugui loses everything. In the years that follow he is pressed into both the nationalist and communist armies, while Jiazhen is forced into menial work. They raise a family and survive, managing "to live" from the 40's to the 70's in this epic, but personal, story of life through an amazing period.

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Plot Keywords:

chinese history | cultural revolution | family saga | puppet show | china | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The ban on the film was lifted only in September 2008 after Zhang Yimou directed the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.

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Quotes

Little Bun: [playing with chickens] When will they grow up?
Xu Jiazhen: Very soon.
Little Bun: And then?
Xu Fugui: And then... the chickens will turn into geese... and the geese will turn into sheep... and the sheep will turn into oxen.
Little Bun: And after the oxen?
Xu Fugui: After oxen...
Xu Jiazhen: After oxen, Little Bun will grow up.
Little Bun: I want to ride on an ox's back.
Xu Jiazhen: You will ride on an ox's back.
Xu Fugui: Little Bun won't ride on an ox... he'll ride trains and planes... and life will get better and better.

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Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: Red Corner/Critical Care/Switchback/Family Name (1997)

User Reviews

My Honest Opinion

This is the best movie that I have ever seen.

I watched this movie because I was taking a class on the politics of China. When I saw that this movie covered such an expansive time period I thought "great, I will learn something." That I did. I cried, I cheered, I stayed up very late... I made my then future husband watch it... he liked it too, not as much as I do.

I tell everyone in conversations about movies that this one is my all time favorite. It took the place of American Beauty, a movie that I have watched about eleven times.

So, I recommend it. If I had a lot of money I would pay people to watch this. It is THAT great.

Details

Country:

China Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Release Date:

16 December 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

To Live

Filming Locations:

China

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$32,900, 20 November 1994

Gross USA:

$2,332,728

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,332,728

Company Credits

Production Co:

ERA International, Shanghai Film Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1