"Ju Dou" is a Chinese film released in 1990 and was directed by Zhang Yimou and Yang Fengliang. It's about a woman, Ju Dou, who is forced into marriage to a brutal dye mill owner. The owner's only reason for marriage is for her to bare his children, which is impossible because he is impotent. But his nephew, Tianqing, falls in love with her and Ju Dou ends up baring his child. I won't spoil anymore, but what follows is a intense experience and ultimately a tragedy.
This film will catch you by surprise. I was slightly bored at the beginning. Almost looking forward to it being over before it even began. But suddenly, as the plot thickened and the characters became more and more complex, the film grasped me in a way that not many films have. It takes a hold of you and your eye's will not let you look away. It's mesmerizing and beautifully shot.
This was on some levels, a tough film to swallow. The content itself is taboo among Chinese culture and was actually banned for many years after it's release. But this film is honest. It's a tragic tale of forbidden love that struggles to survive in a society that shows no mercy.
"Ju Dou" is a excellent film that I would recommend to anyone. It's entertaining for the best reason; the story is brillant. There is also a bundle of symbolism flowing throughout the film. You'll notice certain shots and themes are repeated. Please go see it. I know it's far from the norm of a film many of you would watch but you won't regret this. This film has something to say. Listen.
Here's the IMDB page:
Here's the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75oWde5v9_k
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