The characters are engaging, the actors are outstanding, the scenery is breathtaking, and the story is engrossing. There's just one problem: the ending. I think it's open to interpretation, and it's hard to be sure of what happens when the movie's over.
Also, certain plot points don't seem to add up right; I can't give details without giving spoilers, and I may have misunderstood something (sometimes subtitles can be confusing), but at one point I wasn't sure whether Xinghua was telling the truth (meaning that much more time passed between scenes than I had thought), knowingly lying, or just bluffing to anger her husband.
Overall, however, it's an enjoyable film, and quite different for those who don't know a lot about modern rural China. I recommend this movie if you're curious about rural China; however, some familiarity with certain Chinese customs would probably be a big help.
Also, certain plot points don't seem to add up right; I can't give details without giving spoilers, and I may have misunderstood something (sometimes subtitles can be confusing), but at one point I wasn't sure whether Xinghua was telling the truth (meaning that much more time passed between scenes than I had thought), knowingly lying, or just bluffing to anger her husband.
Overall, however, it's an enjoyable film, and quite different for those who don't know a lot about modern rural China. I recommend this movie if you're curious about rural China; however, some familiarity with certain Chinese customs would probably be a big help.