Tangshan, 1976. Two seven-year-old twins are buried under the rubble of the deadliest earthquake of the 20th century. The rescue team explains to their mother that freeing either child will almost certainly result in the death of the other. Forced to make the most difficult decision of her life, she finally chooses to save her son. Though left behind as dead, the little girl miraculously survives, unbeknownst to her brother and mother.
Acting
Xu Fan's seven-minute wordless grief—no dialogue, all destruction.
Direction
Feng Xiaogang's restraint: the earthquake is 10 minutes, the aftermath is 32 years.
Director
Feng Xiaogang
Xu Fan
Li Yuanni
Zhang Jingchu
Fang Deng
Wang Ziwen
Xiao He
Chen Daoming
Wang Deqing
Jerry Lee
Fang Da
Chen Jin
Guilan Dong
Zhang Guoqiang
Fang Daqiang
Zhang Zifeng
Young Fang Deng
Zhang Jia-Jun
Young Fang Da
Lü Zhong
Fang Da Qiang's Mother
Yong Mei
Fang Da Qiang's Sister
Lu Yi
Zhi Yang
Yang Lixin
Mr. Niu
Liu Lili
Chuan Wen Mother
Ma Qiuzi
Director Zhao
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 1976 Tangshan earthquake killed 242,000 people; the Chinese government suppressed coverage for years. This 2010 blockbuster was the first major commercial film to address it directly, breaking box office records for a domestic drama.
Director Feng Xiaogang cast his own wife Xu Fan as the mother—a decision she initially refused, finding the role too emotionally devastating. He reportedly didn't direct her in the rescue scene, just let the camera roll.
CN
