‘Under The Hawthrorn Tree’, the inaugural film of the 16th International Film Festival of Kerala, is a love story, set in the backdrop of the Cultural Revolution in China. The 114 minutes film is directed by notable Chinese Filmmaker Zhang YiMou.Zhang YiMou, China’s fifth generation filmmaker had won several accolades to his earlier films like ‘Red Sorghum’, ‘Raise the Red Lantern’ and ‘Curse of the Golden Flower. He has chosen a different way to make this film, with soft colours and simple language. ‘Under The Hawthrorn Tree’ is an adaptation of the novel ‘Hawthorn Tree Forever’, written by Ai Mi, based on a real life story, happened during the 1966-76.There is a Hawthrone Tree in the Xiping Village of China, on the banks of Yangtze River. It is revered as Tree of Heroes, and said to be nurtured with the blood of Chinese Martyres, killed by Japanese army during the Second World War. Zhang Jingqiu, daughter of a jailed political outcast in 1970s, meets LaoSan, son of a high-ranking communist party official, at this village and they fall in love, despite the gulf between their backgrounds.The lead roles are played by new comers, another remarkable feature of the Zhang YiMou films. The Director Zhang YiMou is well known for his star-making power. Actresses who shot to fame after starring in his films are favourably called “Mou girls”. The 18-year-old Zhou Dongyu, who plays Jingqiu, the lead role in this film, was in her final high-school year, when she landed the plum role, and she chose to skip college entrance exams in order to act in the film. Shawn Dou, who plays the role of LaoSan, is also a new comer. Dou was born in China, raised in Canada and is now studying acting at the Beijing Film Academy.It is said that, Zhang Yimou, China’s most popular filmmaker of these days, had sold his own blood to buy his first camera, in 1960. He had excelled in film making and achieved a unique position in Chinese as well as International film world.He conducted the spectacular 2008 Olympic opening ceremonies in Beijing. He made this film as a low-budget, intimate love story with unknown lead actors. It received numerous awards and recognitions and was featured in major film festivals like Venice, Cannes, and Berlin. It was the opening film of 2011 Pusan International Film Festival.
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