Yellow Earth (1984)
(Huang Tudi)
Country: CHI
Technical: col 89m
Director: Chen Kaige
Cast: Xue Bai, Wang Xueqi
Synopsis:
A Communist soldier is sent to the countryside to collect happy songs with which to inspire the party faithful, but finds only laments for the hardship of rural life.
Review:
A very quiet and elliptical film, which creates its vivid impression simply by the effect of voices calling in song across a barren landscape. The 'message', risky enough at the time, was about how little effect a political ideology can have on a community so moulded for centuries by the unchanging environment. It heralded the advent of a new Chinese cinema which questioned the old doctrines, but would ultimately gravitate towards historical subjects that disguised their subtexts while proving financially more rewarding.
(Huang Tudi)
Country: CHI
Technical: col 89m
Director: Chen Kaige
Cast: Xue Bai, Wang Xueqi
Synopsis:
A Communist soldier is sent to the countryside to collect happy songs with which to inspire the party faithful, but finds only laments for the hardship of rural life.
Review:
A very quiet and elliptical film, which creates its vivid impression simply by the effect of voices calling in song across a barren landscape. The 'message', risky enough at the time, was about how little effect a political ideology can have on a community so moulded for centuries by the unchanging environment. It heralded the advent of a new Chinese cinema which questioned the old doctrines, but would ultimately gravitate towards historical subjects that disguised their subtexts while proving financially more rewarding.
(Huang Tudi)
Country: CHI
Technical: col 89m
Director: Chen Kaige
Cast: Xue Bai, Wang Xueqi
Synopsis:
A Communist soldier is sent to the countryside to collect happy songs with which to inspire the party faithful, but finds only laments for the hardship of rural life.
Review:
A very quiet and elliptical film, which creates its vivid impression simply by the effect of voices calling in song across a barren landscape. The 'message', risky enough at the time, was about how little effect a political ideology can have on a community so moulded for centuries by the unchanging environment. It heralded the advent of a new Chinese cinema which questioned the old doctrines, but would ultimately gravitate towards historical subjects that disguised their subtexts while proving financially more rewarding.