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Yellow Earth

Released Sep 10, 1985 1h 29m Drama List
100% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In the spring of 1939, an idealistic communist soldier (Wang Xueqi) takes to the Chinese countryside on a mission to collect spirited folk songs from the people. However, he soon discovers that these peasants don't sing songs of joy but ballads that tell of their hardscrabble existence. Though he returns to the army, his speech on freedom makes a powerful impact on Cuiqiao (Xue Bai), a young girl who dreams of crafting a new future by following his example and enlisting in the communist army.

Critics Reviews

View All (8) Critics Reviews
David Stratton Sydney Morning Herald Yellow Earth takes us to an unfamiliar place and time, but through its serene images and its use of songs and music, it widens all our horizons. May 27, 2021 Full Review Walter Goodman New York Times The striking images of Yellow Earth... offer respite from a plot that bears the impress of the cultural arm of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee. Aug 23, 2010 Full Review Pat Graham Chicago Reader The film broke definitively with Chinese studio tradition and introduced a new sense of ambiguity in the relation between political ideology and praxis. Aug 23, 2010 Full Review TV Guide Justifiably celebrated for its daring, colorful visuals and innovative, eye-opening rhythms. Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 29, 2014 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jul 18, 2005 Full Review Film4 Staff Film4 Deeply rooted in the life of the villagers, this is a film about the notion of change -- something not countenanced by the authorities. May 24, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (27) audience reviews
william d The film strives for poignancy but delivers only boredom. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member a great movie that makes you think Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Chen Kaige's Chinese Communist propaganda film is beautifully filmed and acted. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Symbolic images & vivid illustration of the origin of art Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member My first Chinese film saw at NFT Southbank in the Summer 1985. Cinematographic Sumptuousness. Fell in Love with Chinese Cinema for the next 10 years. Sets Very High Standards in Art Direction, Cinematography and Editing. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member [b][u]Chungking Express[/u] ÖØÇìÉ­ÁÖ ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï1/2[/b] Íõ¼ÒÎÀ¾­µäÖеľ­µä¡£ [b][u]Happy Together[/u] ´º¹âէй ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï[/b] °¢¸ùÍ¢ÊôÓÚÁº³¯Î°¡¢ÕŹúÈÙ¡£ [b][u]Yellow Earth[/u] »ÆÍÁµØ ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï[/b] ³Â¿­¸èÕÅÒÕıºÏ×÷µÄÖйúµ±´úµçÓ°µÚÒ»¸ö¸ß·å¡£ Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Yellow Earth

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Cast & Crew

Red Sorghum 85% 84% Red Sorghum The Story of Qiu Ju 87% 85% The Story of Qiu Ju To Live 87% 96% To Live Ju Dou 100% 89% Ju Dou Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis In the spring of 1939, an idealistic communist soldier (Wang Xueqi) takes to the Chinese countryside on a mission to collect spirited folk songs from the people. However, he soon discovers that these peasants don't sing songs of joy but ballads that tell of their hardscrabble existence. Though he returns to the army, his speech on freedom makes a powerful impact on Cuiqiao (Xue Bai), a young girl who dreams of crafting a new future by following his example and enlisting in the communist army.
Director
Chen Kaige
Screenwriter
Chen Kaige
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 10, 1985, Original
Runtime
1h 29m