IES Global

We all know from KTV and Chinese television that the ‘love’ theme dominates the media in China. Seriously, you can spend 3 hours in KTV not listening to the same song twice, yet it would feel like you’ve been listening to the same 3 hour love song. So I was surprised when I found myself unable to turn off my TV when I started watching the love story, Under the Hawthorn Tree, directed by Zhang Yimou. Set during the Cultural Revolution, the movie also provides a glimpse of what life was like for those who were forced to work in the country side in China. Zhou Dongyu plays the lead role, an innocent yet determined and hardworking Chinese youth with a simple beauty which captivates the audience. I had to fight to hold back the tears when Jing Qiu (Dongyu) was getting her foot bandaged up by her young lover. This is a great film to gain some knowledge into China’s history and also proves that Chinese films are well worth the watch.

Another great flick is ‘A Side: B Side’. This Chinese comedy is sure to make you laugh, and you will see a new side to Chinese humor that you may not have encountered yet. The film captures the life of a professor of psychology who is seeking his tenure. When he is denied this, he commits himself into a mental hospital. Inside the hospital, he befriends a young guard and learns of this young man’s struggling love life. As the story develops and introduces new characters, there is much laughter, and at times sadness as well. Full of wit and sarcasm, this film came as quite a surprise to me, and I recommend giving it a view.

Other movies worth mentioning: Raise the Red Lantern, Ye Wen parts 1 and 2, and Red Cliff.