A peasant woman vs. the system — and somehow it's FUNNY?
This story happened at the Loess Plateau. In order to redress an injustice where an old country woman was mistreated, a group of local officials led by Yang Yulu took the case to the upper level of authority.
Acting
Guo Da's comic timing makes bureaucracy genuinely entertaining
Writing
Sharp satire that somehow stayed out of Chinese censors' crosshairs
Director
Feng Xiaoning
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The film depicts China's 'xinfang' petition system, where citizens bypass local corruption to appeal directly to higher authorities — a real, often futile, bureaucratic maze.
Feng Xiaoning was a rare Fifth Generation director who kept working outside the state studio system; this indie spirit gives the film its scrappy, authentic energy.
CN
