Quote analysis Flashcards
“Wipe out corruption, wipe out waste, for bureaucratism total distaste!”
- Camera angle: focuses on Tietou (focusing on the hope for the young generation)
- Children singing as they play hopscotch (shows the extent of the Party and how indoctrinated they are)
- The children’s lives have been affected (they are copying the adults)
During the power cut
- The child holding the light represents the hope the new generation
- The Party has chipped away everyone’s hope
“Daddy was dead. He died instantly. He didn’t even have time to cry out” - Tietou
- He’s talking from the future, emphasising the grief which they couldn’t show
- The sentence is short and emotionless (reflecting the shock of the news). This shows how Tietou has been affected and how quick the Chinese government can take/strip happiness, family, relationship.
- The Party silencing Shaolong (didn’t even have time to cry out)
“Why did you let it go? I didn’t. It flew away by itself”
- The young generation can’t be contained by the Party (won’t be strapped down) and will continue to be free. They are independent and have no need to follow the government
- Message/metaphor: the people should be free and not contain one another
- Tietou lets the bird go unlike the people around him
“Chen Shujuan, stupid old hen” - Tietou
- He is rather disrespectful with his mother
- It shows the impact of the violence and politics on the young generation
- He has started to swear (copying the adult’s action) to express his emotion
- It shows the shift in their relationship. In the beginning, they were close but now politics is driving a wedge in their relationship.
Tietou is bullied by children and then throws stones at them.
- The bullying and throwing stones shows that the younger generation is becoming more violent.
- It also shows his reputation and what people think of him because of what happened. The Party has not just affected his father but also him.
- This might be one of Shujuan’s reason to marry Guodong so Tietou can have a father figure/to complete the family
- The courtyard, once lively, is now noisy with work and labour.
When the firecrackers go off, the children shield their faces (showing that they dislike violence)
Tietou looks around and doesn’t know where to go, resembling the young generation’s internal morals and how they don’t know how to choose right from wrong after the Party’s influence.
“You know, the one with the long nose and big ears…” - Tietou’s friend
- Tietou’s attitude has changed (the way the boys talk is rude)
- They have been influenced by their surroundings. Whilst Shujuan hasn’t raised him this way, she has no power about Tietou’s surroundings
- School is a place for learning, literature which are things the Party wants to eradicate and they are fighting. (Shows the influence of the Party).
Tietou flies the kite with NiuNiu
- The roles are reversed now and Tietou is taking more of an adult role in taking Niu Niu kite flying (mimicking Tietou and Shaolong – passing the hope to the new generation and the beginning of the film)
- Music: soft & the scene is quite comforting showing a glimpse of hope as it resembles the beginning with the kite flying high (before when the Party got involved)
we see the hope in the new generation slipping as he focuses on homework rather than playing (he is losing his innocence) - Lighting: on the homework showing what is important
The kite is stuck up high in the tree…do you think we can get it down” - Niu Niu “No I can make another one for you” - Tietou
- This scene resembles the beginning as Tietou says exactly what Shaolong and Guodong said.
- Tietou seems to want to protect Niu Niu’s innocence
- The kite resembles how it’s going to take a long time for people to return to their life before the Party.
- Camera angle: the overhead shot as they watch the kite showing how the Party is stealing their childhood from them (sense of longing)
the kite foreshadows something is going to happen
“Down with Lu Wei”
- Lu Wei is wearing blue separating her from everyone else.
- Everyone has turned on her quickly showing how quickly the Party acts and turns people against them
- The children cut her hair = stripping her of the humanity (the children are laughing at this cruel treatment)
- Tietou is chanting with the kids, despite Lao Wu being an intellectual, as well showing the influence of those around them
- This shows how the young generations don’t understand and just follow those around them
“There are a lot of posters already in my workplace criticising me…”
- Despite being a prominent Communist Party official, this does not protect him from the Cultural Revolution (no-one is safe from the Party)
- Things are out of his control and no one can predict what/when things will happen
- Again, friends and colleagues have turned their backs on each other (criticising each other). There is no loyalty within the community and their loyalty only lies within the Party.
- It dehumanises people (they are doing exactly what the Party wants them to do, not caring about family and relationship, void of emotions)
“What can I do? They’ll soon come to the house. And it’ll mean trouble for the both of you.”
- Home (which was once a safe place) is being invaded by the Party)
- The Party doesn’t care about families and are willing to storm into private property (a safe place). Lao Wu’s criticism puts them all at risk.
- This contrasts previous scenes when home has been a safe place but now they are terrified even in their own homes.
- The fact that the little red book is in front of them during such a private conversation signifies the impact of the Party and how little freedom they have. (Party is always watching them)
“I didn’t think things would happen so quickly”
- Despite being a prominent Communist Party official, this does not protect him from the Cultural Revolution (no-one is safe from the Party)
- Things are out of his control and no one can predict what/when things will happen
- Again, friends and colleagues have turned their backs on each other (criticising each other). There is no loyalty within the community and their loyalty only lies within the Party.
- It dehumanises people (they are doing exactly what the Party wants them to do, not caring about family and relationship, void of emotions)
“Old comrade? He’s an old counter-revolutionary” - Red Guards
- His house is crowded. There are so many red guards for one man showing the strength of the Party
- The Party doesn’t care whether you’ve helped the Party In the past.
- Shujuan helps Lao Wu, it’s the first time we’ve seen someone do something to help someone else
- The scene of house with poster (see previous note)
“The maid is calling us for dinner” - Tietou
Tietou seems to be mocking Lao Wu and Shujuan’s position in the house/family
He seems to be mimicking Lao Wu
“What’s with you, young man? You don’t like me do you?”
- It starts happy and nice with the family eating together
- But it turns into conflict showing how they aren’t much of a family
- Shujuan again becomes the mediator between them
- Lao Wu eats Tietou’s rice symbolising acceptance. This is how Lao Wu expresses his love for Tietou. (This is representative of a typical father, he doesn’t say I love you but he shows his care with support e.g giving them everything he had
- This contrasts a later dinner scene where they are happily eating.
“This money is for you and Tietou. It’s not much, but it should get you through any hard times.”
- Lao Wu has a very practical role in Tietou’s life by providing money for Shujuan/Tietou (Lao Wu’s patriarchal figure in his life).
- Each of the patriarchal figures in Tietou’s life has somehow offended the Party and so has not been able to provide a happy life for Tietou.
- The Party has taken a father figure, a family and hope from him (later at the end when Tietou looks up at the torn blue kite).
Tietou is wearing smarter clothes showing how they are benefiting from the marriage
- the scene is quiet and peaceful unlike the bustling courtyard
- We see the Uncle studying in a study (with books) show that
He takes me to the zoo, and eat peppery lamb’s stomach too”
the scene is lively with children running
Tietou is lying about Lao Wu painting him in a good light. We see that Tietou still craves a family atmosphere
“Did you say I saw home?”
- Mrs Lan is fearful of the Party due to her higher status.
- She is a nice and caring person - a foil to the community chief (who is brutal and a voice of the Party) whereas Mrs Lan is kind and cares for others (a different image to the government is trying to paint onto the landlords etc.
We confiscated them as a lesson to everyone”
- Her buns get confiscated. She then can’t provide for her family.
- The community chief is trying to turn people against her and humiliate her.
- It has happened right in the courtyard showing how the Party is invading people’s safety and private place.
- She is forced out of her home and has to leave to go to the countryside since she can’t bear to live there (being the target of the Party).
- Camera angle: watching their conversation through a window showing how the community chief is lying and the naivety of the people to believe her and the Party’s words.
“It’s just that my field of vision is smaller than other people’s.”
- It deteriorates due to stress (disease and the environment) doctor says to avoid stress but this is impossible due to the Party
- This is a metaphor of how his future is uncertain due to the nature of the Party and the promise of a brighter future is blinded by lies.
- This is ironic since the Party forces a close mindset (Shusheng has always been aware of what’s going on but now his eyesight is deteriorating which is what the Party wants).
- Lightning: a contrast between dark and light. The bright light and loud noise is overbearing.
“Your mental state is important.”
His bad mental status as a result of the Party has worsened his eyesight. This is metaphorical since the Party is blinding him physically and also mentally. It shows how some people blindly follow the government.
- Lighting: backlighting when the light source is placed behind the subject. This creates silhouettes and creates a dramatic effect and emphasises the subject. It creates a tense atmosphere.
- Shusheng doesn’t understand why the government is not making him a Party official but it’s because he is intelligent and not blindly brainwashed by the government which is ironic since he’s physically blind
Shusheng taking photo of family
- Shusheng is taking a photo of the family which is ironic since he is losing his eyesight. It can also represent how he has a different perspective (he has a positive view). He’s taking a picture of the family in a bright and positive light whereas we know the problems between Shuyuan and Guodong
- Outside the family has to put up a front and hide whereas inside they can express their feelings and be themselves. They try to make it seem like they love each other but we know that they don’t.
- The narration marks a new chapter and change
“I can’t see how dancing serves any political purposes.”
“It’s a political duty.”
- There is political pressure on her to serve her country. The Party official is sitting down whilst she is standing up emphasising the contrast in their positions. (He is superior and of more importance.)
- She can’t dance. She is shown her place as a woman in the Party.
- Later scene shows Zhu ying working in a labour camp showing the consequences of going against the Party. Red banner = communist colour.
“ Zhuying has frequently stirred up sentiments against the Party
- Setting: snowing (Harsh environment), crowded (contrast from the quiet intimate atmosphere from before)
- Camera angle: Over the shoulder shot- Zhu Ying seems isolated and vulnerable.
- Everyone backs away (shows how people abandon each other in the face of the Party
- The more she is punished the more sad she becomes (loses herself)
“Shusheng we mustn’t see each other anymore, it would be bad for your future.”
- Zhuying and Shusheng can’t have a relationship. She is scared for their future.
- The Party is breaking up relationships with each other since their entire loyalty must lie within the Party.
- Shusheng is wearing a green army uniform and Zhuying is wearing blue worker clothes.
- She knows the consequences of the Party since she spoke against them so she knows it will affect people around her (Party’s effect on people around them)
- Audience feels sympathy for each other- they are trying to protect each other and hide things from each other
Shuyan and art
- Shuyan was an art student and so was considered an intellectual.
- His artwork is a symbolism and is evidence of him being an intellectual. This foreshadows him being later sent to a labour reform camp.
- It shows how literature/freedom to learn and express will be banned (western culture).
- Shujuan says Shuyan has always been fearless but he looks a little fearful when he sees that
- Tietou had torn the picture that he made.
“Such extreme reacting rightist element deserve merciless criticism”
- He is labelled as a rightist and is shunned by people
- Cinematography: contrast between the bright light and the dark lightning.
- Shuyan is isolated and alone (the criticism of the Party has isolated him). He is in complete darkness (can’t see him), shows the Party’s ability to eradicate people
- The focus of the scene is Shuyan since he has made all these mistakes but in the centre is someone reading something from the Party.
- Amongst all of this, the government is still the most important thing.
- Setting: art room- a form of expression and literature which is disliked by the Party. There’s a contrast between the setting and situation their in with the government
“Young people ought to concentrate on study and thought reform”– Big Sister to Shuyan
- Big sister: has no name (dehumanised)
- Big sister slaps Shuyan: shows how the Party has fractioned the family dynamic (encourages aggression towards each other, makes others question whether to follow the Party of family, shows the breakdown of the family relationship)
- The clock rings: marking the end of the relationship
“Ma, don’t be upset. It’s good for Shuyan” - Sister
Sister: believes this is good for the Party (voice of the government, don’t have their own opinion, obedient, government ideal person) similar to the community chief
“Yes the other had a bad background”
- They still care about societal background
- Those who had educational background were rightists and had “bad background”
- Peasants girls were safe from the Party which is ironic
“Little Uncle left too. They both went to places far away”
- Shuyan gets sent to labour camp
- Older sister is indoctrinated by the Party (loses her relationship with her family).
“What’s happening to everybody?” – Mum.
- It shows how the older generation is starting to acknowledge the change that is occurring in China, but that they still don’t understand it.
- The Granny is questioning is what has happened to everyone, shows that the family is not safe anymore (she doesn’t know what it happening but still faces a change)
“Who is this Stalin person?” - Local Granny
- shows the lack of knowledge about politics among the older generation
- They can’t understand what is going on
- Cinematography: This stillness of the scene contrasts with the previous movement symbolising how this political event has brought the courtyards life to a grinding halt, and could be read overall as symbolic for the restrictiveness and invasion of politics in everyday life
“I’m illiterate. What do I have to do with meetings?” - Local Granny
- The older generation feel helpless
- It emphasises the gap between the old and young
- It also shows that the Local Granny is quite practical, as it doesn’t make any sense for her to attend meetings that require her to be literate, even if the Party demands she attends.
“Ma, you mustn’t talk like that outside the family.” - Shujuan
- It shows the mum doesn’t understand how to behave in order to survive in this new political environment.
- Represent tradition - they don’t understand (party has changed)
“Ma, don’t be upset. It’s good for Shuyan” - Sister
“Nonsense! He’s just a kid who thinks too big” - Mother Granny
- The sister believes this is good for the Party (she is the voice of the government, doesn’t have their own opinion, obedient, is the government’s ideal person) similar to the community chief
- Granny is still family orientated
The Granny prays for Tietou
- This shows the strength of the community and the relationship between the neighbourhood.
- It’s night but she has stayed up
- She shows the old tradition not following the new way
“His father may be in a labour reform, but he’s not a criminal” - Granny
- She defends Tietou, Shujuan and Shaolong after Shaolong is declared a rightist.
- She is not influenced by the party, as many other people would have isolated the family due to Shaolong’s perceived status as a rightist.
- This highlights the generation gap, as the Local Granny can see past the political ideology (mainly because she is ignorant of it) to the truth, unlike other characters, such as Older sis, who are completely indoctrinated by the government.
“Forget it I’m not getting into an argument” - Mother “There’s more leftovers”
- This shows the generation gap since the mother doesn’t want to talk about politics but talks about food = comfort whereas younger generation talks about Party
- The mum only wants what is best for her children. She struggles to understand the political situation, especially when Shuyan and Shaolong are declared as rightists.
- She seems to enjoy family dinners, although not when politics is brought up during the meal.
- She focuses on her own family, rather than the demands of the party.
“You are the youth of New China. You must carry on the glorious revolutionary tradition and make a contribution to the motherland” - older sis
- Older sis has no name (dehumanised)
- She talks of politics during the family meals
- She is the voice of the Party
“Everything looks so delicious now! Manual labour has that effect.” - Older sister
She talks positively about the Party and shows her indoctrination.
“It’s a feat unparalleled in history. You must have heard at least!”
- We see the opposing views of the political situation
- Dramatic irony: the audience knows how the Great Leap forward failed but it’s ironic seeing the older sister so optimistic refuses to acknowledge the situation
“Young people ought to concentrate on study and thought reform”- Older Sis to Shuyan
- Older sis slaps Shuyan showing how the Party has fractioned the family dynamic
- It encourages aggression towards each other and makes others question whether to follow the Party of family
- The clock rings: marking the end of the relationship showing the breakdown of family
“There you go again. You’re still not over Shaolong.” - Older sister
- Older sister is insensitive and has any emotions (doesn’t sympathise with Shujuan about Shaolong’s death)
- She does not prioritise family relationships
“We confiscated them as a lesson to everyone”
- She represents the voice of the Party. She also accuses Mrs Lan of getting flour for the buns from the black market.
- She wears blue overalls = party
- She has no relationships with anyone and is directly linked to the party. This could resemble how her entire loyalty lies with the Party and how the Party tries to break all relationships.
He is rather disrespectful with his mother. He has started to swear (copying the adult’s action) to express his emotion
- It shows the impact of the violence and politics and hatefulness on the young generation and the shift in their relationship.
In the beginning, they were close but now politics is driving a wedge in their relationship. - Shujuan rereads the letter while Tietou is asleep so she can express her emotions and protect Tietou from the reality
- Single lamp light: shows how isolated Shujuan is (only has one hope), compared to the family scenes with lots of light but now it’s just her and Tietou
- The seasons are changing (a year has passed), the weather is getting harder as is the Party
Cinematography: cold and blue compared to how the room used to be warm
- A picture of Shujuan and Shaolong
- The room is in order and nothing has changed. Despite losing her husband, Shujuan tries to be strong. She tried not to let this event impact her and Tietou’s life.
“When can I ever stop worrying about you?” - Shujuan
- There used to be lots of people but now there are just Shujuan and Tietou with their shadows.
- There’s a propaganda photo showing the Party is always watching
“Just have a fit one-day and die” - Shujuan
- Tietou is numb/emotionless and Shujuan is showing complete despair to their relationship. - A rift in their mother-son relationship.
- Although she reprimands him, she is scared of losing him.
- Tietou closes his eyes and turns away, showing the divide in their relationship.
- Camera shot: she is alone
“Mum said she was doing it for me” - Tietou
- Shujuan is getting married again for Tietou
- The car symbolises her moving away from the previous life and leaving it behind (she watch as she and tietou drive away)
- It’s very abrupt and the audience does not know who he is. We don’t feel the emotion showing how Shujuan is marrying for survival rather than personal feelings (showing how the - Party has disrupted personal feelings)
- Music: (crow song) sad and slow
“We struggled with our principal today.”
- Tietou proudly states what they did to the teacher and Shujuan is not impressed (=she still hasn’t let the Party’s ideas take over) \
- The slap shows how Tietou is not becoming a bad child since Shujuan disciplines her children
- Tietou doesn’t know any different and think it’s the correct thing to do
“Mum, what makes you happy?../…Being with you.”
- The more the Party takes control, the more emotionless and depressed the characters feel (the lightning is more dark). We see this when Shujuan marries Lao Wu for money and stability. The Party has stripped the people of their humanity.
- This moment between Tietou and his mum is special because despite what has happened, their bond is still strong (she married Lao Wu to ensure Tietou had a good life).
- Music: the crow song plays in the background (which resembles their mother and son relationship).
- Camera angle: the camera pans out, we are left with this special and heart-warming and hopeless scene
“Assistant secretary general of the state council offered a unique suggestion for the Rectification movement..Later he received an anonymous threatening letter. He likened Party members to man-eating tigers.”
- This demonstrates what happens to those gives their thoughts to the Party
- Liu Yun Wei: send criticism about the Party on behalf of the others (the one who drops on the banner on Shaolong and Guodong)
Neighbourhood and community in the beginning:
- Cinematography: The establishing shot is a pan down onto a brown, grey town. This contrast of the pan down with the still, wide shot of the previous scene could be symbolic for the movie’s focus on the ordinary person and lower class.
- The next few shots are panning and dolly shots of workers and community members bringing furniture into the courtyard. This constant movement of the camera is indicative of the hustle and bustle of the community, and shows the life and spirit of this courtyard community.
