CANFIELD REVIEWS THE REGION ONE RELEASE OF THE STORY OF QIU JU

Films about the individual struggling to maintain dignity while locked within bureaucracies are pretty common. Of course most don’t have the talent of actress Gong Li to bring their central characters so poignantly to life. Currently known worldwide as much for her beauty as her talent it’s the latter that she rely’s on here in this early work by director Zhang Yimou.

Both have had recent notoriety stateside and very steady careers. But neither Memoirs of A Geisha nor House of Flying Daggers nor Hero nor even 2046 tells the meaty part of their story. These are major talents who have soared in films like Red Sorghum, Raise the Red Lantern, and The Road Home. Better known for tragedy than comedy they turn their talents to a much lighter story here while still managing to mine an epic feeling from humble events.

Gong Li plays a pregnant wife who cannot get justice from the Chinese government after her husband is kicked in the crotch by the chief of their small village. Following the chain of command she finds herself farther and farther away from home as she jumps through hoops trying to find anyone who will embrace accountability. Even as society changes around her she doesn’t give up and by the film’s end…well if crotch kicking isn’t enough to get you to watch this film then I give up. No spoilers here.

If the film’s approach to satire seems indelicate it’s worth noting that Qiu Ju is as notable for it’s prosaic presentation of Chinese peasant life as for holding a mirror up to societal injustice. Much warm humor underscores rather than undercuts a story that is ultimately about frustration. The lack of extras isn’t surprising given Sony Classics habit of dumping their foreign pics in barebones editions but it’s slightly more understandable here. This is a solid movie that deserves continued attention. Having it in it’s original aspect ratio is a great start for Sony and the good transfer is a good start for viewers who might want to focus a little more narrowly on two singular talents.