Synopsis:

The film is set in a small war-torn town in the South of Yangtze River after the WWII. It centers around the enclosed world of Zhou Yuwen (Wei Wei), who lives in a dilapidated house ruined by war with her ailing husband Dai Liyan (Shi Yu), Liyan's teenage sister Dai Xiu (Zhang Hongmei), and an old servant Lao Huang (Cui Chaoming). The husband and wife has been estranged in the dull life but remained dutiful and caring to each other. One day, Liyan receives an unexpect visit by his old college friend Zhang Zhichen (Li Wei) who is now a doctor in Shanghai. Yuwen and Zhichen are surprised to see each other, as they were neighbors and lovers ten years ago. Zhichen's visit breathes new life into the decaying household. Dai Xiu adores Zhichen and Liyan suggests that Zhichen could be his brother-in-law, while Yuwen and Zhichen have to negotiate their suppressed passion. On the night of celebrating Dai Xiu's 16th birthday, when everyone gets drunk, the conflicting emotions and tensions rise to the surface and are realized by Liyan...

Questions to ponder:

These are a few questions suggested for you to think about while reading the assigned articles and watching the film. Please jot down ideas and notes on details or scenes you think are relevant for class discussion.

1. The plot line sounds melodramatic, but do you feel melodramatic when you read the script and watch the film? Why or why not?

2. What is unique about the narrative strategies in the film? How does the omniscient female voice-over function?

3. The film is sometimes described as the prototype of psychological realism and poetic film. How does the film create this psychological mood and poeticization in film languages?

4. What's the relationship between the national crisis and the family crisis in the film? Can you read the story allegorically?

5. How do you understand the tensions between passion and duty in Chinese cultural conventions?

"Lovely is A Rose"

Lovely is a Rose,
Sedi Maria.
That day I was on the hill, hunting on horseback,
When you were singing down the hill.
As sweet as rosy clouds,
Your singing got me lost.
I fell down the hillside.
Ayaya..
Your singing is as sweet as rosy clouds.

Strong youth is a Kazakh,
Evan Dudar.
Tonight please cross the river to come to my house.
Feed up your horse,
Bring your dongbula.[1]
When the moon arises,
Pluck your string.
Ayaya.
We lean on each other and sing under the tree.

"可爱的一朵玫瑰花"

可爱的一朵玫瑰花，
塞地玛丽亚，
那天我在山上打猎骑着马，
正当你在山下歌唱，
婉转如云霞，
歌声使我迷了路。
我从山坡滚下，
哎呀呀
你的歌声婉转如云霞。

强壮的青年哈萨克，
依万都达尔，
今天晚上请你过河到我家。
喂饱你的马儿
拿上你的冬不拉，
等那月儿升上来，
拨动你的琴弦，
哎呀呀
我俩相依歌唱在树下。

[1]Dongbula is a type of plucked stringed instrument used by the Kazak nationality.

"In the place far far away"

In the place far far away, there is a good girl.
Everyone who passes her tent will look back lingeringly.
Her smiling rosy face, so much like the red sun.
Her lively affective eyes, so much like the radiant moon at night.
I am willing to give up my property, to graze sheep with her,
Everyday gazing at her smiling rosy face and her beautiful laced clothes.
I wish I could become a little lamb, following by her side.
I wish she whould hold that thin leather whip, keeping lashing lightly on my body.

"在那遥远的地方"

在那遥远的地方，有位好姑娘，
人们走过她的帐房，
都要回头留恋地张望。
她那粉红的笑脸，好像红太阳。
她那活泼动人的眼睛，好像晚上明媚的月亮。
我愿抛弃了财产，跟她去放羊，
每天看着粉红的笑脸，和那美丽金边的衣裳。
我愿做一只小羊，跟在她身旁。
我愿她拿着细细的皮鞭，
不断轻轻打在我身上。