Director: Zhang Yimou
Awards: Silver Bear Award in 2000 Berlin International Film Festival, Jury Grand Prix
The Road Home by Zhang Yimou tells a love story of the Yu Sheng's (Sun Honglei) parents. As the film begins, Yu Sheng arrives in his home village on the news of his father's death. He is back in the village to discuss with his mother, Zhao Di (Zhang Ziyi), on the funeral service for his father, Luo Changyu (Zheng Hao). His mother insisted that it is tradition that his father would be carried from the city to the village by men to let him remember that it is his road home. However, due to the cold winter and the lack of manpower, carrying out this tradition was posed to be a challenge. Suggestions such as using technology like tractors to bring his father's body back were raised. Yet, his mother's resolve remained strong. This whole starting scene at the present time was screened in monochrome. It symbolizes dilemma and the monotonous tone in the village after his father had passed away.
Yu Sheng recalls how his parents got together. It was the central love story of the village at that period of time. Zhang Yimou uses stereotypes in The Road Home. Zhao Di fell in love at first sight with Changyu as soon as he arrives at the village to be the new school's teacher. Her undying love for him brought her to desperate attempts to get him to notice her, such as going to fetch water from the well beside the school, when in fact it is the furthest one from her house. Together with the housewives, she too, made meals for the men who were working together to build the school. However, Zhao Di was able to show her innocence and embarrassment from being so daring when he finally notices her. Several close up shots of her were taken as she looks at her love from far. It brings out her curiosity, desire and intentions without explicitly expressing her love for Changyu. Although they were separated due to the politically unstable situation in the city, she had waited 2 years for Changyu to return to her side. Finally.
Towards the end, the film was switched back to the monochrome present. Yu Sheng, as he recalled his parent's love story, finally understand the meaning of the road in which they had to follow to bring his father back home. The funeral service was held in a snow storm. Despite that, many of his father's students returned to solemnly send his father back to his home village. A simple yet heartwarming film that shows the importance of Chinese tradition. In it, lies the very soul of the people who created them and those who followed them. Zhang Yimou also uses the highest form of purity. Zhang Ziyi looked like a typical pretty Chinese doll with great facial features. Zhao Di's purest love for his husband.
I felt that Yu Sheng's father was a symbol of colour and life in the film. When he was alive, the film was in vibrant colors (not forgetting Zhang Yimou's favourite use of red). When he passed away, he took all the colours away with him, leaving the village with a black and white theme. Upon watching this film, I reflected on the society now and the people in the village then. It seemed that it is a rare sight where there is true undying love, where one would sacrifice so much for the other, in this materialistic and practical society. Most traditions were lost as their meanings were not understood by later generations. I do hope that there is still some form of purity in the society now. Just a little bit more compassion, and a little bit more love will do.
[1] Variety Reviews: The Road Home. Retrieved on 20 April 2011 from http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117778683? refcatid=31
[2] Boston Review: Zhang Yimou's Long Road Home by Alan A. Stone. Retrieved on 20 April 2011 from http://bostonreview.net/BR26.5/stone.html
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