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Features: DVD, Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 1.85:1, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Subtitled
Fugui and jiazhen endure tumultuous events in china as they movefrom wealthy landownership to peasantry. They raise a family and survive, managing 'to live' from the 40's to the 70's in thisepic, but personal, story of life through an amazing period.
Editor's Note
This epic saga from the director of RAISE THE RED LANTERN follows four generations of one family as they struggle through the turbulence of 20th-century China. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival.
Plot Summary
When the irresponsible Xu Fugui loses his family's fortune during a gambling spree, he causes his loved ones incredible hardship. Fugui's father dies from a heart attack upon hearing the news, and his pregnant wife abandons him. Unable to put bread on the table, even for himself, Fugui works as a street vender, and when his wife notices his uncustomary humility, she returns. Within a year, Fugui desires to open a shop but is unable to raise the necessary funds. Instead of money, the local loan shark gives him his old shadow puppets. Soon, Fugui masters the art of puppetry, which increases his paltry income -- but also serves as propaganda for the imminent Communist Revolution.
| Features | Region 1 | | Keep Case | | Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85 | | Audio:
| Stereo Surround - Mandarin Chinese | | Additional Release Material:
| Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer |
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| Technical Info
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Release Information
|  | Studio: MGM |
| Release Date: 7/24/2007 |
| Running Time: 133 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1994 | | Catalog ID: 103411 | | UPC: 00027616887535 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: Mandarin | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], Chinese, Mandarin | | Available Subtitles: English, French, Spanish | | Video: Color |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Cannes (1994) |  | Winner, Jury Prize | | Ge You, Winner, Best Actor |
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| | Professional Reviews | Sight and Sound
"...[Ge You] gives a masterfully underplayed performance..." 10/01/1994 p.45-6New York Times
"...In two magnificent performances, [Li] carries the story's emotions and [You] the weight of history....[TO LIVE] would be an extravagant and emotional film, even if it weren't a politically brave one too..." 09/30/1994 p.C30 Entertainment Weekly
"...Engrossing....A story that transcends all cultural boundaries." -- Rating: A 12/23/1994 p.51 Los Angeles Times
"...Masterful, stirring....It possesses both vast scope and intimacy, humor and sorrow, complex characterizations, richness of incident and an awareness of the quixotic role fate plays in all our destinies..." 12/14/1994 p.F1 Chicago Sun-Times
"...It is a big, strong, energetic film..." 12/23/1994 p.35 USA Today
"...Chameleonic Gong adds another memorable portrait to her gallery..." 08/25/1995 p.3D |
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