Men have been a plague on women's lives ever since... well ever since there were men. Things have been getting somewhat better, but not by much. Not everywhere. 80s China was not a good place to be a young woman. Frankly it was not a good place for anybody, but women had it worse, as always. It's grim, it's gray, it's depressing, hopeless, abject poverty. It is 80s China in a god-forsaken place where some idealistic couples were duped into volunteering for the betterment of the country and their futures. The party lied to them and now they are stuck. What else is new in Communist China? I wonder if it was also punishment for having a second child. Surely the one child policy had been in place by then.
Qing Hong (which is actually the movie's title) has an awful dad who makes her life miserable. He is miserable. In his narrow view he actually wants what's best for his daughter. And it's gutting me that he is right. I felt it in my bones right from the start. I think young girls are better off swearing off boys and working towards their futures, especially when possibilities are limited. Choosing the first boy that pays attention to you is a recipe for disaster. You are gambling with your life. And we know you cannot date and experiment in 80s China as a woman. But of course these parents don't have the language or the understanding to explain all these things to her. Dad locks her up or follows her around anywhere. Classic dad right?
Of course I had no idea how much I would be proven right and I did not want that painful lesson on Qing Hong. She actually believed in the promises, not as much as her best friend Xiao Zhen, but enough to regret for a lifetime.
To their credit these parents actually stand by their daughters the best they can. I was dreading the worst when it all comes to a head, but we're still given a small glimmer of hope for them at the end.
Capital punishment sounds about right.
