The Story of Qiuju
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Zhang Yimou and Gong Li collaborated in many widely acclaimed movies, from Red Sorghum in 1987 to the 1995 movie Shanghai Triad. Like most of these earlier works by Zhang Yimou, The Story of Qiu Ju focuses on ordinary or even repressed Chinese peasants. Zhang makes a very sharp criticism against the bureaucracy and power abuse, which still existed in 1992 when the movie was made. Besides, the film also contrasts the simple peasants with the sophisticated city-dwellers, highlighting problems in China's contemporary socio-political development. The film triumphed at the Venice Film Festival in 1992 to capture the Best Film award, and Gong Li was also crowned Best Actress for her superb performance.
An ordinary farmer Qinglai (Liu Peiqi) quarrels with the village's chief (Lei Quesheng) over the building of a storage house for his crop in the field. The village chief kicks Qinglai in the privates. Qinglai gives up and wants the matter to pass, but his wife Qiu Ju (Gong Li) does not. She argues the case to officers first in the county government then the provincial government. The very pregnant Qiu Ju persists for but one reason: she wants justice to be done.
Published by Yes Asia USA
