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Aftershocks (Tangshan dadizhen)

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91% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings

Critics Reviews

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Peter Bradshaw Guardian There's no doubt about it: this film's an unashamed heart-wringer and a tear-jerker, but it packs an almighty punch and the CGI work at the very beginning, as Tangshan crumbles into nothingness, is impressive and pretty scary. Rated: 3/5 Nov 11, 2010 Full Review David Jenkins Time Out Perfect hokum for those who don't mind having their heart strings strummed like a banjo. Rated: 3/5 Nov 10, 2010 Full Review Mike Hale New York Times The film may be a blunt instrument, but it's rarely maudlin -- the exception being the performance of Mr. Feng's wife, Fan Xu, as the long-suffering mother -- and is, on occasion, quite moving. Rated: 3.5/5 Nov 4, 2010 Full Review Sabina Pasaniuc CineVue Delivers what it promises, and at times more so. Xiaogang Feng manages to tell a touching story, whilst also expanding it to incorporate a larger tale of China and its people's survival through hardship. Rated: 3/5 Nov 6, 2018 Full Review Simon Kinnear Total Film Mimics the worst of Hollywood's excesses, pairing gratuitous shock with patriotism and a flood of tear-jerking moments calculated for awards bodies' consideration. Rated: 2/5 Dec 1, 2010 Full Review Henry Fitzherbert Daily Express (UK) Aftershock is a gruelling and sombre watch, occasionally over-wrought and melodramatic, yet an absorbing and thought-provoking insight into the consequences of human catastrophe. Rated: 3/5 Nov 12, 2010 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Liam D While not the greatest movie it’s genre but it is an devastating disaster film that seems uncomfortable to watch at times Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/30/24 Full Review Audience Member It's about real life disaster event. A girl who missing her family and left alone after the disaster, she been rescue by another family and raise her as their child. The girl grow up to find her true family and finally home with her true family. It about sad story, disaster, family and memories of people who loss because of disaster. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member In 1976 an earthquake happens in Tangshan. It's a big one, nearly 250.000 people die, actually. A woman has already lost her husband and during the rescue she can only save one of her little twins. Which one will she choose? Well, we will find out - and, boing - spoiler: the other one lives too. We follow the lives of the mom, the twin boy and the twin girl. Different lives with different struggles and the mixing is not very fluent. This is a very strong film. It's based on true happenings and the actors deliver exceptionally. The sorrow and grief is huge, the lighter scenes are rare. It looks really good and the pace is pretty nice. Some slow scenes in the middle of it is not really rewarding but the first and last half hours are making up for it. I can't understand how this has fallen out of the big radar here in Europe since this is pure quality on most levels. It was a big hit in China, though. 8.5 out of 10 tomatoes. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member This is my first Chinese film but wow....... I can see why it was nominated for an Oscar. A powerful & touching story. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Well filmed epic based on the 1976 earthquake in Tangshan. Typical Chinese tearjerker that pulls on your heart strings and gives you dehydration from crying throughout the entire movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member I woke up in a truck full of dead bodies; my dad, laying next to me. In 1976 a vicious Earthquake ravages Tangshan. A family consisting of a mother, father, daughter, and son are caught in the middle. The father is killed in the earthquake and the children are caught under a fallen building. The village tries to come to their rescue, but they can only rescue one child and the mother is left to choose between children. The mother chooses her son and during the body collection after the event, the daughter miraculously springs to life. She is adopted by a soldier and eventually grows up, marries, and moves to Canada with her husband. Almost 30 years after the original earthquake, another one erupts and the daughter returns home to help the survivors...and is by chance reunited with her brother. "Forgive mom!" Xiaogang Feng, director of Sorry Baby, A Sign, Cell Phone, A World Without Thieves, If You Are the One 1 & 2, The Banquet, and Personal Tailor, delivers Aftershock. The storyline for this picture is very well written and the characters are compelling and well presented. The method by which this story was told is very well done. The acting, settings, and script are all perfect for the content. "He gave his life for mine." Aftershock was a movie highly regarded on Netflix so I decided to give it a shot. It was awesome and a solid telling of a tale of a split family that did what they had to, to survive, how resentment can build within the family ranks, and the triumph of life. I strongly recommend seeing this underrated gem. "God! You bastard!" Grade: A Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Aftershocks (Tangshan dadizhen)

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Director
Feng Xiao-Gang