Message from hpenrod

[Anonymous]

I watched the film several years ago, and what particularly struck me was the irony of the film. If Fugui had not gambled away the house, he would have been executed instead of the creditor who claimed his home. Fugui's best friend accidently kills his only son. The regime imprisoned the educated, so the hospital does not have any doctors. Fugui's daughter dies because of the lack of medical care. The doctor they retrieve from prison is so hungary his eats two buns and faints because he is malnurished. Consequently, the daughter dies, but her newborn son lives--and is named two buns.

I agree that this film portrays the changes in society due to the communist regime beautifully. There is a scene that shows the communal eating order--where the children eat with other children, the parents with parents, and etc. The family has changed. The film addresses the changes in society brought on by the communist regime in a subtle way. I think this film was banned in China--it that true?

It is an excellent film to show at the high school level.