To Live [1994 film]

I was fascinated by this film about a family in China who went from being prosperous, losing everything due to the husband's gambling, and their trials during the Chinese Revolution. I think seeing the loving relationship of the parents really turned around my perception of Chinese culture...I'm conditioned to think women were either property just for show or slaves. And while I can't say this would win accolades from feminists, Jiazhen was a very capable and determined woman. I was also surprised to see how much emotion the men displayed. While I can assume there was some propaganda in the message, I think it does help the average US citizen think about our common humanity with citizens in this foreign country.
I'm not a film critic, so show more can't comment on how good it is from any point of view other than my personal reaction. show less

Based on Yu Hua's novel, the film To Live tells a vivid history of the Chinese Cultural Revolution and several other political and social movements and their influence on individual lives. The protagonist, Xu Fugui, experienced a loss of fortune and families during these movements and socio-political changes, only living with his old cow.