Film analysis ( The road home ) - Essay Example

Film analysis (The road home) One of the most celebrated films from the acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou, The Road Home (1999) is a romantic drama film which is based on Bao Shi’s novel Remembrance. The movie is especially distinguished for its treatment of young love in rural China and its theme appeals to universal audience. Along with the distinguished theme, this refreshingly unpretentious and touching film also attracts audience for the splendid performances from its cast that consists of relative debut-artists.

Although the soundtrack by San Bao may appear superfluously sentimental, it does not damage the quality of the film as a flawless, perfect romantic drama film. As Stephen Holden maintains, “Zhang Yimou’s tenderhearted film ‘The Road Home’ is a cinematic ballad of such seamless construction and exquisite tonal balance it transcends most of the pitfalls of movies that aspire to a classic, lyric simplicity.” (Holden) Therefore, it is indubitable that the movie The Road Home will be remembered for its interesting theme, filmic treatment and skillful film-production, and the splendid performances from its cast.

In a careful review of the movie The Road Home, it becomes lucid that the major theme of this work of art is the tender love in rural China between a country girl and a young teacher. The major theme and the plot of the film are interconnected as the latter reveals the intensity and depth of the love that the major characters share. The film presents the meaningful relationship between these rural characters as the teacher’s death at the end of the story brings their son back from the big city for the funeral.

Significantly, the film-maker has been careful in presenting the nature as one of the most crucial characters in the film and the major themes of the movie are closely connected to the relevance of nature. It is important to realize that the movie also exhibits an awe-inspiring sense of a purifying return to nature. This theme is supported by the roles of the major characters – the humble but glowing characters living in a remote Chinese village during the Cultural Revolution. Along with the major themes of the film, the viewers are also amazed at the quality of movie-making exhibited by the experienced and successful director Zhang Yimou, who transforms the unprocessed emotion and uncomplicated narrative into an intensely genuine masterpiece.

The craft of Yimou, who was a cinematographer prior to becoming a director, is very much evident in the overall presentation of the major themes. The director’s mastery of color and mood, along with his attunement to nature, helps him in turning this fundamental love story into a penetrating hum of universality. For this, Zhang Yimou is greatly supported by the warm cinematography of Yong Hou and the reminiscent score of San Bao. “The film’s overwhelming sense of a purifying return to nature helps compensate for its central characters -- two humble but luminous young people living in a remote Chinese village during the Cultural Revolution -- not being sharply etched.

” (Holden) Another essential component contributing to the success of the film is the excellent performances by the casts of the film who were relative unknown, debut-artists. Thus, it is essential to maintain that Zhang Ziyi, the film’s lead, handles the character of young Di skillfully and she brings much enthusiasm and charm to this role. Sun Honglei and Zhao Yuelin also ably support the lead cast of the film and contribute to the overall success of the film by Yimou. In short, the various components such as the themes, the quality of the film-making, and the splendid performances from its cast have contributed to the success of the movie The Road Home.

Work Cited Holden, Stephen. “Movie Review: The Road Home (2000).” New York Times Review. 2001. 10 July 2011. .