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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 1988)
Arts & Entertainment Chinese film ‘Yellow Earth’ lands at Sheldon By Mick Dyer Senior Reporter “Yellow Earth,” also translated as “Yellow Laod,”arecent film from the People’s Republic Of China, drama tizes the contrasting values of feudal and modem China, raid represents a spirit of hope for the nation’s future. Set along the Yellow River in rural northwestern China in 1939, poor environmental conditions are a meta phor for the poor social conditions in the country at that time. - • The Yellow River, the heart of much of ancient Chinese culture, represents the spirit of China. The vast, dry barren land surrounding the river represents the dying feudal cul ture, as China enters the 20th century. The film focuses on the lives of four people: Gu Qing, a young cadre who iscollccung folk songs to be used by the communist party; Cui Qiao, a free-spirited 12-year-old peasant girl; her younger brother and her old fa ther. In the movie, Gu Qing is the epit ome of the Chinese revolutionary with his eyes on the future. He is young, gallant, intelligent, a member of the army and he even sews his own cloths when they need mending. He’s a true comrade. Cui Qiao’s father symbolizes the rigid acceptance of out-dated cultural attitudes that are causing the culture to stagnate. Cui Qiao and her younger brother represent the young people— caught in the middle—who symbol - ize hope for the future. There is a lot of singing in the film. U seems that singing is one of the few pleasures the people living in such a harsh environment have. Ironically, Cui Qiao sings beauti ful songs about her unfortunate lot in life in a very sexist culture: “I’ve been beaten/ because 1 don’t want to get married/ I only miss my mother/ I’ve been beaten/ poor girls. “If I don’t have to get married/ I’ll be happy though I live a miserable life/ who will sympathize with me when I go through hardships/ who will sympathize with me/ poor girls.” It’s a powerful moment in the film. Cui Qiao is painfully aware of the social problems existing in China at the time. As she spends time with Gu Qing (he’s staying with the family in their primitive home), she is inspired by the ideas that he brings from the world outside of her backward, iso lated community. She is enlightened and realizes the possibilities of a better life with communism. Later on in the movie, after Gu Qing has left, and on her wedding night, Cui Qiao steals away toa raft on the river and escapes her fate in the remote community to join the com munists. She explains why this is necessary to her younger brother before she leaves. As she floats down the river, Cui Qiao sings one last song — a song about “only the communists can save us.” Gu Qing returns to the community to find the land parched, and the local men praying to the “Grandfather i Dragon” for rain. The Last moment of the, film focuses on Cui Qiao’s younger brother struggling against the crowd to make contact with his communist friend who can save them. At any rate, besides the patriotic theme, which often seemed to fall more into the category of propaganda than art or literature, the cinematog raphy dominated the film. Carefully composed camera shots throughout the movie gave breath taking panoramic views that seem more like alien landscapes than agri cultural land that people cling to for their very existence. Abstract shots of the river running past, featuring mo tion but not form. a! so added meaning and continuity to the movie. Through the careful use of the camera, Chen Kaige, the director of the film, effectively captured the desolation of the region and the diffi culty of life there. It seems almost ironic that Kaige woi Id choose to create such powerful nd beautiful images of such a desper ite land. Per haps that is to symboli/i die pride and resiliency of the people who occupy it. “Yellow Earth” is appearing at the Sheldon Film Theater on Wednesday at 1 p.m., Friday at 7:30 p.m., Satur day at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. as a part of the new' Chinese Cinema Series. The Series features eight modem Chinese movies running now through Nov. 12 at Sheldon. “Yellow Earth” is Kaige’s directo rial debut. He will be interviewed on stage by Professor June Levine fol lowing the screening Friday night. Sheldon to show 10 Chinese films The New Chinese Cinema Se ries, running now through Nov. 12 at The Sheldon Film Theater, fea tures 10 modem Chinese films. • “Yellow Earth”: Wednesday at l p.m., Friday at 7:30 p.m., Sat urday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m.. • “Horse Thief’: Thursday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 9 p.m., and Sun day at 2:45 p.m. • “A Good Woman”: Thursday at 9 p.m., Friday at 1 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. _2 •“The Black Cannon Inci dent": Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m., and Sunday at 9 p.m. • “Sacrificed Youth": Oct 25 at 3:15 p.m., Oct 26 at 1 p.m., Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 28 at 3 and 9 p.m. • “In The Wild Mountains": Oct 27. at 3 and 9 p.m. and Oct 28. at 7 p.m. • “Taipei Story”: Nov. I at 3 p.m., Nov. 2 at 1 p.m., Nov. 3 at 7 p.m., Nov. 5 at 3 and 7 p.m. and Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. •“A Time To Live And A Time To Die”: Nov. 3 at9: IS p.m., Nov. 5 at 12:15 and 9:15 p.m. and Nov. 6 at 3 and 9:15 p.m. • WA Chinese Ghost Story”: Nov. 8 at 3:15 p.m., Nov. 9 at 1 p.m., Nov. 10 at 9 p.m„ Nov. 11 at 3 and 9 p.m. and Nov. 12 at 1 and 7 p.m. •“Peking Opera Blues”: Nov. 10 at 7 p.m., Nov. 11 at land 7 p.m. and Nov. 12 at 3 and 9 p.m. Have a Hallmark Halloween! 25% OFF All * Boo Bazaar E ^ Sale Good Oct 20th Thru 23rd Patty's w Shop Centrum 477-8041 Gloves 'n tails, t-shirts, capes, bats 'n rats, there's no escape! Creepy cobwebs, skeleton bones, ghoulish makeup, scary tombstones. Ghosts that glow and slimy ties, garish getups make fun disguise. Fabhc masks and beanies, toO; party with Hallmark — create a big BOO! . THINKING ABOUT LAW SCHOOL? Visit with Professor Larry Pope of Drake Law School an Monday, October 24 12:30-3:00 Career Placement Center Nebraska Union, Room 225 $ Drake University iaw School_ INTRODUCING! Nonfat Frozen Yogurt! with No Choiosteroll <1 Can’t Believe ItV\ YOGURT! Hofanoa loko Pkua-70tto and Van Dorn Phono 4199116 Uncoln ftARRYMOREV Celebrating Our 13 th Birthday An all'day party at 1974 prices Lunch & Cocktails Friday, October 21st ftAftnyMenEv • 124 North 13th Alloy, Lincoln, NE
