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Actors: Zhang Ziyi, Honglei Sun, Hao Zheng
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Road Home |
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It would be hard to name another director -- Kubrick, perhaps -- who has created so many masterpieces or near-masterpieces with so few lifetime films. Zhang Yimou started with richly sensual tales (Red Sorghum, Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern), moved to sociopolitical epics (To Live, The Story of Qui Ju), and then here, in 1999, presented what might be called a "domestic epic." A fairly young middle-aged engineer from the city returns to the north China village of his birth right after his father's death. His mother insists that all the old rituals be observed, including hand-carrying the body the many miles back from the city hospital morgue to the village so the deceased will know "the road home." The man relates the story of how his parents -- an 18-year-old farm girl and a somewhat older teacher sent to the village by the government -- met and fell in love in 1955, and decides that his mother's wishes must be honored. Most of the movie centers on the earlier love story. It's a shame the more recent "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" made it to these shores first, because Ziyi Zhang, the spitfire young girl of the action flick, is much more incredible in her debut in this movie, aged 20. The simplicity and transparency of her emotions, the incredible beauty of her face, are captivating. There is no sex or nudity, not even a kiss, in this intensely romantic film; and the landcape, seasons, and light -- the sound of vegetables being chopped, the chanting of children's voices in school -- are as much stars as Ziyi. A gorgeous and moving piece of work.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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A remarkable and touching Chinese film directed by Zhang Yimou. A simple tale about how when a grown man went home to take care of his father's funeral and eventually found out the touching romance story of his parent.
--Jenny, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Road Home |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Romance/Love/Hugging
Yes
Family, loving
Yes
Special relationship with
- mother
Lover is...
- of a different social class
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- homemaker/wife
Age:
- a teen
- 20's-30's
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn straight
Body type
- (woman) skinny
Events of movie makes character more...
- sensitive
- caring
- happy
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Chinese
How sensitive is this character?
- soggy whimpering jelly muffin
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
How much in movie?
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Chinese
Setting
Asia/Pacific/Middle East
Yes
Asian country:
- China
Mountains/Cliffs
Yes
Mountains:
- climbing on trails
Small town?
Yes
Small town people:
- nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting
- school
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- very happy
- all mixed up
Non-American film?
Yes
What language?
- Chinese
Subtitles?
- Yes
Any profanity?
- None
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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