An idealistic youth moves to the countryside in search of a purer, more honest society, but finds injustice even in his remote village.
Acting
Daolin Sun's haunted eyes carry entire ideological crises
Cinematography
Lush rural landscapes that mock the protagonist's hopes
Direction
Xie Tieli balances political message with genuine human suffering
Director
Xie Tieli
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Adapted from Mao Dun's 1929 novel, filmed during the brief post-Great Leap Forward thaw when Chinese cinema could cautiously critique revolutionary idealism.
The 1920s setting allowed 1960s audiences to read contemporary critiques of Communist cadre hypocrisy without explicit censorship triggers—Xie's most subversive choice.
CN
