Jump to content

Hibiscus Town: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Line 25: Line 25:
'''''Hibiscus Town''''' ({{zh|t=芙蓉鎮|s=芙蓉镇|p=Fú róng zhèn|}}) is a 1986 [[Cinema of China|Chinese film]] directed by [[Xie Jin]], based on a novel by the same name written by [[Gu Hua]]. The film, a [[melodrama]], follows the life and travails of a young woman who lives through the turmoil of the [[Cultural Revolution]] and as such is an example of the "scar drama" genre that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s that detailed life during that period. The film was produced by the [[Shanghai Film Studio]].
'''''Hibiscus Town''''' ({{zh|t=芙蓉鎮|s=芙蓉镇|p=Fú róng zhèn|}}) is a 1986 [[Cinema of China|Chinese film]] directed by [[Xie Jin]], based on a novel by the same name written by [[Gu Hua]]. The film, a [[melodrama]], follows the life and travails of a young woman who lives through the turmoil of the [[Cultural Revolution]] and as such is an example of the "scar drama" genre that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s that detailed life during that period. The film was produced by the [[Shanghai Film Studio]].


The film won Best Film for 1987 [[Golden Rooster Awards]] and [[Hundred Flowers Awards]].
The film won Best Film for 1987 [[Golden Rooster Awards]] and [[Hundred Flowers Awards]], as well as Best Actress awards for [[Liu Qiaoqing]] in both ceremonies.


==Cast==
==Cast==
Line 37: Line 37:


==Plot==
==Plot==
The film follows Hu Yuyin (Liu Xiaoqing), a young and hardworking woman in a small Chinese town on the eve of the [[Cultural Revolution]]. She is happily married and runs a successful roadside food stall selling spicy [[beancurd]]. Yuyin is supported by Party members Li Mangeng (Zhang Guangbei), who once wanted to marry her, and Director Gu, a war veteran in charge of the granary. But in 1964 the [[Four Cleanups Movement]] sends a Party work-team to root out Rightists and [[capitalist roader]]s. The team is led by Li Guoxiang (Xu Songzi), a single woman, assisted by Wang Qiushe, a former poor peasant who has lost his land because of his drinking. At a public [[struggle session]], Yuyin is declared to be a "new rich peasant." Both her home and business are taken from her and her husband, Li Guigui (Liu Linian) is executed for trying to kill Li Guoxiang.
The film follows Hu Yuyin (Liu Xiaoqing), a young and hardworking woman in a small Chinese town on the eve of the [[Cultural Revolution]]. She is happily married and runs a successful roadside food stall selling spicy [[beancurd]]. Yuyin is supported by Party members Li Mangeng (Zhang Guangbei), who once wanted to marry her, and Director Gu (Zheng Zaishi), a war veteran in charge of the granary. But in 1964 the [[Four Cleanups Movement]] sends a Party work-team to root out Rightists and [[capitalist roader]]s. The team is led by Li Guoxiang (Xu Songzi), a single woman, assisted by Wang Qiushe (Zhu Shibin), a former poor peasant who has lost his land because of his drinking. At a public [[struggle session]], Yuyin is declared to be a "new rich peasant." Both her home and business are taken from her and her husband, Li Guigui (Liu Linian) is executed for trying to kill Li Guoxiang.


After the first waves of the Revolution have ended, Yuyin returns to the town, now relegated to a lowly street sweeper. She then falls in love with Qin Shutian ([[Jiang Wen]]), who had come in the 1950s to collect local folksongs but was declared to be one of the [[Five Black Categories]]. When Yuyin becomes pregnant, however, this loving relationship attracts the outrage of Li Guoxiang and Wang Qiushe, who themselves are having a secret affair. Shutian is sent to [[reform through labor]] and it is not until [[Deng Xiaoping]]'s reforms in 1978 that his case is reviewed and he is allowed to return and help Yuyin re-establish their food stall. At the end of the film, Li Guoxiang continues holding a position in the bureaucracy while Wang Qiushe loses his mind.
After the first waves of the Revolution have ended, Yuyin returns to the town, now relegated to a lowly street sweeper. She then falls in love with Qin Shutian ([[Jiang Wen]]), who had come in the 1950s to collect local folksongs but was declared to be one of the [[Five Black Categories]]. When Yuyin becomes pregnant, however, this loving relationship attracts the outrage of Li Guoxiang and Wang Qiushe, who themselves are having a secret affair. Shutian is sent to [[reform through labor]] and it is not until [[Deng Xiaoping]]'s reforms in 1978 that his case is reviewed and he is allowed to return and help Yuyin re-establish their food stall. At the end of the film, Li Guoxiang continues holding a position in the bureaucracy while Wang Qiushe loses his mind.

Revision as of 13:44, 20 March 2015

Hibiscus Town
Directed byXie Jin
Written byAh Cheng
Xie Jin
StarringJiang Wen
Liu Xiaoqing
CinematographyLu Junfu
Music byGe Yan
Production
company
Release date
  • 1986 (1986)
Running time
164 minutes
CountryChina
LanguageMandarin

Hibiscus Town (simplified Chinese: 芙蓉镇; traditional Chinese: 芙蓉鎮; pinyin: Fú róng zhèn) is a 1986 Chinese film directed by Xie Jin, based on a novel by the same name written by Gu Hua. The film, a melodrama, follows the life and travails of a young woman who lives through the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution and as such is an example of the "scar drama" genre that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s that detailed life during that period. The film was produced by the Shanghai Film Studio.

The film won Best Film for 1987 Golden Rooster Awards and Hundred Flowers Awards, as well as Best Actress awards for Liu Qiaoqing in both ceremonies.

Cast

Plot

The film follows Hu Yuyin (Liu Xiaoqing), a young and hardworking woman in a small Chinese town on the eve of the Cultural Revolution. She is happily married and runs a successful roadside food stall selling spicy beancurd. Yuyin is supported by Party members Li Mangeng (Zhang Guangbei), who once wanted to marry her, and Director Gu (Zheng Zaishi), a war veteran in charge of the granary. But in 1964 the Four Cleanups Movement sends a Party work-team to root out Rightists and capitalist roaders. The team is led by Li Guoxiang (Xu Songzi), a single woman, assisted by Wang Qiushe (Zhu Shibin), a former poor peasant who has lost his land because of his drinking. At a public struggle session, Yuyin is declared to be a "new rich peasant." Both her home and business are taken from her and her husband, Li Guigui (Liu Linian) is executed for trying to kill Li Guoxiang.

After the first waves of the Revolution have ended, Yuyin returns to the town, now relegated to a lowly street sweeper. She then falls in love with Qin Shutian (Jiang Wen), who had come in the 1950s to collect local folksongs but was declared to be one of the Five Black Categories. When Yuyin becomes pregnant, however, this loving relationship attracts the outrage of Li Guoxiang and Wang Qiushe, who themselves are having a secret affair. Shutian is sent to reform through labor and it is not until Deng Xiaoping's reforms in 1978 that his case is reviewed and he is allowed to return and help Yuyin re-establish their food stall. At the end of the film, Li Guoxiang continues holding a position in the bureaucracy while Wang Qiushe loses his mind.

Reception

Awards

Further reading

  • Browne, Nick. "Society and Subjectivity: On the Political Economy of Chinese Melodrama," in New Chinese Cinemas: Forms, Identities, Politics. Cambridge: CUP, 1994, 57-87.
  • Hayford, Charles W. "Hibiscus Town: Revolution, Love and Bean Curd." In Chris Berry, ed., Chinese Films in Focus: 25 New Takes. London: BFI Publishing, 2003, 120-27.
  • Kipnis, Andrew. "Anti-Maoist Gender: Hibiscus Town's Naturalization of a Dengist Sex/Gender/Kinship System." Asian Cinema 8, 2 (Winter 1996-97): 66-75.

See also

References

  1. ^ Marion, Donald J. (1997). The Chinese Filmography. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. pp. 265–266. ISBN 0786403055.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Hibiscus_Town&oldid=652732675"