By Han Wei Chou, Channel News Asia
SINGAPORE: Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s latest offering, “Coming Home” may not have a huge cast or tons of special effects, but it has a whole lot of heart.
Chinese actress Gong Li sheds her glamorous image to play Feng Wan Yu, a woman who pines for her missing husband in “Coming Home.” Photo from Channel News Asia.
Set in 70s China, “Coming Home” tells the tale of Lu Yan Shi (Chen Daoming), an anti-establishment professor who is imprisoned during China’s Cultural Revolution.
He escapes from custody and tries to reunite with his wife Feng Wan Yu (Gong Li) and daughter, Dan Dan (newcomer Zhang Huiwen), but gets arrested again after being reported by his daughter.
When the Cultural Revolution ends, Lu is released and returns to his wife. Alas, Feng has amnesia and does not recognise him.
Lu then embarks on a quest to reconcile with his daughter, make Feng remember him, and discover just what happened to her in his absence.
While the Cultural Revolution plays a huge part in the story, Zhang Yimou takes care not to dwell on it, and provides just enough background information in the film for the average viewer to understand the story.
Those with even a rudimentary understanding of the Cultural Revolution will be able to enjoy “Coming Home”.
“Coming Home” is reminiscent of Zhang’s earlier masterpieces like “Ju Dou” and “Raise the Red Lantern”.
It has a moving storyline and contains a lot of human drama.
Read the full article by Han Wei Chou from Channel News Asia.
