To Live

Rating:
Summary: One of the finest movies I've ever seen
Review: I won't go into the details of this movie, one because it really should be enjoyed without any preface, and two because it has been described elsewhere. I rented the movie purely to see Gong Li, who is one of the most beautiful actresses out there. I was absolutely blown away by this film. The story, the acting, the flow; everything about it was masterful. I am a big fan of Zhang Yimou, but this film far outshines any other work he's done before or after. Gong's acting is superb, matched entirely by You Ge. The scene with the "tea" revenge caught me so offhand, in both the touching portral of Chinese family life mixed with the wonderful quirky humor, that I laughed out loud and nearly choked on some ice tea I was drinking at the time. 10 minutes later I was crying my eyes out. This movie left me shaking at the end, and I kept reliving scenes over and over days after I returned the rental. "To Live" is one of the best all-time films ever made, period.

Rating:
Summary: The most Under rated movie of all time
Review: Unfortunately foreign movies do not get the credit and publicity they deserve. If only people would be more open minded about foreign movies, they would discover the movie "To Live". To Live is a movie about life itself. It reflects what the common people in China experienced during the Cultural Revolution. We follow the life of an ordinary family that goes through many hardships, wondering if they would live or die. Through the hard times, it makes them realize how important life, family, and love really is. Ultimately in a country where there is so much chaos and tragedy, the only thing the people want, is TO LIVE. The actors/actresses in this movie are splendid, Gong Li is absolutely beautiful. I believe that her role in To Live is the most powerful and finest compared to all of her other movies. Somehow I can not explain it but Chinese movies have a way of portraying a person's character, their emotions in such a way that hits you right on the spot. That is something that American movies have not achieved yet. This movie will make you cry, laugh, and be thankful that you are alive. We win, we lose, life is not easy. I recommend this movie for anyone and everyone. It will make you think about your own life and be more thankful for what you have and don't have. It is just unfortunate that most people would never consider watching a Chinese movie, well they are missing out on the greatest movie.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointment
Review: This film completely butchers, rearranges, and rewerites an incredibly moving novel. I suggest that you read the book first.

Rating:
Summary: Fate
Review: The movie To Live insightfully displays human nature. By experiencing life in China from the 1940s through the Cultural Revolution, one can get a visceral sense of the historical context of the era as well as learn a bit about how life's path is determined by a mixture of one's own decisions and by a bit of chance. These, I feel are the film's most endearing qualities.

There are a series of life changing events that forms the troughs and crests of the protagonist's life. Each event shows the interplay of both chance and free-will. These events are: the roll of dice at the beginning of the movie, taking the box of puppets to make a living, the forcing of the main character's son to go and help the cadre, and the fixed marriage of the main character's daughter. I'll analyze these one at a time.

The roll of dice at the beginning of the movie has several results. The immediate effect is that Feng Gui (the story's protagonist) loses his family home and his family, both his nuclear and extended families. However, while this at first seems as though an unfortunate circumstance, the primary effect is that Feng Gui gives up gambling and recovers his relationship with his family. In fact, later in the story it becomes apparent that if he had not lost the farm, he would have been declared an evil landlord and sentenced to death. This plainly shows how things that may first appear to be unlucky are in fact lucky. There is also a subtle display of luck vs. free-will in that while luck determined that he lost at gambling, Feng Gui ultimately chose, of his own volition, to go on playing when his wife (the voice of reason) begged him to stop.

The second event, Feng Gui's taking the box of puppets to eke out a living, also shows how fate can play an important role in one's survival. By staying honest with himself and using a true talent to get by, Feng Gui manages to avoid being killed in the bloody fighting between the KMT and the CCP. While many people would have given up on the puppets, Feng Gui did not take lightly the promise that he made to return the puppets once he got back on his feet. He persisted in keeping the puppets, even though it would have been more expedient during the marches to leave them behind. Eventually the puppet shows proved spirit-lifting for him and the surrounding soldiers, and possibly saved him from further toil as a prisoner. This event shows how strength of purpose and resolve can get people through even the most trying of times.

The third event, Feng Gui's forcing of his son to help the cadre despite his lack of sleep, shows yet another way that fate can be influenced by human foibles. The event rests in Feng Gui's devotion to his family and the cadre. Feng Gui is forced to choose which is more important-he chooses the cadre. Despite the fact that his son is very tired and on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion, Feng Gui sends him to work. Feng Gui thinks that to do otherwise would reflect badly on the family and cause the cadre to doubt the family's devotion. In placing more value on the cadre, fate makes Feng Gui suffer the consequence of his own actions when his son dies. This event shows how one's intentions can play an important role in one's fate.

The fourth event, the fixed marriage of Feng Xia (Feng Gui's daughter), shows another aspect of fate. What is a very happy stage in Feng Xia's life ultimately foreshadows her end. While she has done nothing to directly influence her fate beyond ensuring its happiness, the Red Guard has removed experienced doctors from the hospital. When complications arise during her delivery, there is nobody there who can help. This event shows two important aspects of life. The good times in one's life can often turn bad very quickly and other people can influence one's own fate.

To Live brilliantly explains fate and all its facets. Through the chain of events in the movie, one can acquire this wisdom and become more aware of how things influence their own lives. As I said before, I believe this aspect of the movie is its most endearing quality. And through it all, Feng Gui survives.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful piece that depicts the struggles of survival
Review: To Live takes place mid century in China just after the second world war. The story line follows the Xu family and the hardships that befalls them up to the late 60s and early 70s.

It illustrates to what lengths people had to adapt and convert to in order to survive under Communist rule (especially during the cultural revolution). Old friends and even family had to form divisive lines between themselves in order to save themselves from possible prosecution.

The acting and the interactions of the three main protagonists Li Gong, You Ge and Deng Fei are masterful and stirring. To Live is as good a film representing this time period as any other. Definitely an epic on the same plateau as Farewell My Concubine

Rating:
Summary: Stunning; poignant
Review: I have shown this film to my English students after having read Dai Sijie's book, BALZAC AND THE LITTLE CHINESE SEAMSTRESS, because of the portrayal of communism and the effects of the Chinese "cultural revolution". While it at first appears to be loaded with communist propoganda, it becomes apparent by the end of the film that it is an outspoken criticism of Mao and this harsh period of recent Chinese history.

Aside from the political overtones, this is also a masterful study of overcoming loss and adversity that transcends cultural or political boundaries. While my students almost invariably complain about the subtitles at the beginning of the showing, by the end, they have been completely drawn in, and are laughing and crying on cue. If this isn't the true test of a great flick, I don't know what is.

A masterpiece, and one that everyone should see.

Rating:
Summary: What does it mean, TO LIVE?
Review: The protagonist of this story (You Ge) is not very smart, industrious, or even nice. But against the horrific backdrop of mid-20th Century China (never overplayed by the deft Zhang Yimou) he becomes an Everyman. He loses so much, first by his own pathetic errors, then by the ravages of revolution, war, and revolution, that he has nothing: only he (and his wife Gong Li - looking homely and earthy) remains. The nature of the losses I should not tell, lest it spoil the tragedy of the film. But in the end, the couple reminds me of two desperate people grabbing onto a tree in the middle of an island that sinks inexorably into the frigid ocean below. Zhang tells his story, not as melodrama, but as a loving testament to what people can withstand and still manage to love . . .and to live.

Rating:
Summary: Stunning; poignant
Review: I have shown this film to my English students after having read Dai Sijie's book, BALZAC AND THE LITTLE CHINESE SEAMSTRESS, because of the portrayal of communism and the effects of the Chinese "cultural revolution". While it at first appears to be loaded with communist propoganda, it becomes apparent by the end of the film that it is an outspoken criticism of Mao and this harsh period of recent Chinese history.

Aside from the political overtones, this is also a masterful study of overcoming loss and adversity that transcends cultural or political boundaries. While my students almost invariably complain about the subtitles at the beginning of the showing, by the end, they have been completely drawn in, and are laughing and crying on cue. If this isn't the true test of a great flick, I don't know what is.

A masterpiece, and one that everyone should see.

Rating:
Summary: 6 Stars +
Review: To Live is a masterful project and deserves the best praises for foreign cinema. It touches every emotion possible in its depiction of one family's faults and successes; life as it might have been in the midst of political chaos. To Live maps the losses and gains of Fugui and Jiazhen--an average young couple moving through China. It's difficult to discuss the turns and movement without spoiling the movie. However, I will say the couple we encounter in the 1940s and end with in the 1960s is triumphant and tells a story never to be forgotten. Highly Recommended!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: 3 1/2 Stars
Review: This film was pretty interesting. I'm not sure that I would say moving or masterful, but interesting nevertheless. On the one end it seems somewhat of a propaganda film. On the other end, it clearly shows that the Chinese are able to look back with some criticism on the cultural revolution and other surrounding events. There was one disconnection though that seemed kind of obvious and awkward to me - in particular the father's transition from sorry gambler to family man and upstanding citizen. Of course, this may have to do with the theme of survival. Perhaps he had to change his ways in order to survive, and ultimately to live. But here I didn't think that there was a lot of flow in the film. Anyway, all that aside...the film was interesting and worthy of a recommendation.