Shan zha shu zhi lian (2010)

Romance sparks between a young woman and a young man from different economic backgrounds during China's Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and '70s.

Director:

Yimou Zhang

Writers:

Ai Mi (novel) (as Aimi), Lichuan Yin (screenplay)

Stars:

Xuejian Li, Taishen Cheng, Dongyu Zhou

2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Xuejian Li	...	Village head Zhang (Zhang Duizhang)
Taishen Cheng	...	Teacher Luo (Luo Laoshi)
Dongyu Zhou	...	Jing (Jingqiu)
Rina Sa	...	Auntie (Da Ma)
Xiaoyu He	...	Huanhuan
Xinbo Yu	...	Lin (Changlin)
Shawn Dou	...	Sun Jianxin (Lao San)
Xinyun Yi	...	Fang (Changfang)
Zheng Wang	...	Eldest Brother (Da Ge)
Zhuoran Yao	...	Sister-in-Law (Da Sao)
Ruijia Jiang	...	Wei (Weihong)
Meijuan Xi	...	Jing's Mother (Jingqiu Muqin)
Muyuan Qiu	...	Jing's Brother (Jingqiu Didi)
Xinyuan Hu	...	Jing's Sister (Jingqiu Meimei)
Jinsong Wang	...	Director Li (Li Zhuren) (as Qi Ke)

Storyline

"Under the Hawthorn Tree" tells the story of Jing, a naive city schoolgirl to be transferred to a remote village for "re-education" during the Cultural Revolution. In China's heavens reigns one solitary God, Mao. Jing's father has been jailed for "rightist" and her mother struggles to feed her three children. Jing knows that both their future and the welfare of her family depend, in view of the authorities, on their good behavior. A small error would be enough to ruin their lives. But Jing's prudent and peaceful existence is disrupted when she condescends to the attentions of Sun, the charming son of an elite military member. Due to the social gap separating them, a romance between them is unthinkable; even more so, dangerous. But the attraction is mutual, powerful and undeniable. Jing tries to resist, but Sun chases her politely, even after she is back to her native city. Love between the two blossoms. It is a pure, passionate and secret love. No one should know, still less her ...

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

China

Language:

Mandarin

Release Date:

16 September 2010 (China)

Also Known As:

Under the Hawthorn Tree

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beijing New Picture Film Co.,IDG China Media,New Classical Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Sun: I cannot wait for you for one year and one month. I cannot wait for you until you are 25. But I have waited for you my whole life.

User Reviews

Mao Zedong and the Killing of the Kiss!!!

Mao Zedong and the Killing of the Kiss

Shan zha shu zhi lian/Under The Hawthorn Tree (2010) is a very romantic film. It is a tear-jerker. It is also beautifully made and can be added to the extensive list of classic movies directed by Yimou Zhang.

If you are familiar with the languid style of some Asian cinema, then this film is spectacularly rewarding and intensely moving.

This film represents a young generation brought up in an atmosphere of fear and paranoia, cultivated by Mao Zedong and his insidious rule. These characters have been moulded into automatons with their natural impulses cruelly suppressed.

Zhou Dongyu is brilliant as the young and inexperienced Jingqiu and Dou Xiao is utterly charming as the male love interest.

It seems that many in the West have misunderstood this film. One critic calls this film "emotionally emaciated". How wrong can someone be?

Maybe the undeservedly poor rating on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes is because there are no psychotic ballerinas with self-mutilation fetishes or protracted gun fights within CGI dreams?

One thing is for sure, Under The Hawthorn Tree is a brilliant piece of filmmaking.