Following his trilogy of highly aesthetic folk fables (Red Sorghum, Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern), Zhang Yimou made a sharp pivot to a style grounded in realism with the Golden Lion winning The Story of Qiu Ju. Gong Li (who else?) stars in the title role as the pregnant wife of a farmer, seeking justice from local and regional authorities after her husband is assaulted by the village chief. What ensues is a powerful test of willpower, where Qiu Ju must confront the bustle of a modern city (this is Zhang’s first contemporary set picture), and the absurd - if not intentionally unhelpful - bureaucracy of the legal system.

Assisted by what is arguably Li’s greatest performance, Zhang demonstrates a keen interest in the lives of working people, an ambivalence toward systems of law and power, and a caution against single minded revenge. Those used to the gilded surfaces and theatricality of his earlier films may be surprised at the emotional depth of this sympathetic portrayal of a woman’s personal odyssey.  

The screening on 26 July was introduced by Chris Berry (KCL).

Cast:
Gong Li, Liu Peiqi, Liuchun Yang