The return of Zhang Yimou to our screens at least with this moving drama about a couple who try to recreate their relationship after being split up during the cultural revolution and more importantly, after the wife suffers from amnesia and cannot recognise her husband. 
In some ways it is a small story with one or two important elements but most of all it is about love and reconciliation. Some read a political message in it which could be true but I am still not sure how much to accept that.
The setting and depiction of the period is excellent with that dull, depressed Communist period of the late 70’s shown to a tee. Chen Daoming as the husband 
and the ever-fabulous Gong Li 
do the honours as the couple and both are excellent in their own subtle ways. Zhang Huiwen appears as their daughter
and looks like a very promising actress for the future.
If I have a criticism, it was with the rather obvious and insistent mood music, but the rest of the film is very well directed and made. Not a subject matter to everyone’s taste and some may want more politics but for me it redeems Zhang Yimou’s as the top Chinese filmmaker in action.
★★★★ +
passionfilm 