“Under the Hawthorn Tree” (2010) The movie is based on a true story during the Cultural Revolution in China, which was then novelized. Jingqiu, 17-year old girl, is in her last year of high school. But she is sent to Xiping Village to learn from the peasants, and to conduct a research for the school curriculum. In that village she meets Sun Jianxing. Sun falls in love with her and gives her little gifts and makes frequent visits. Jingqiu has to return to the city. She and Sun begin to date secretly. Actually the relationship is dangerous for them. Firstly, she is under tremendous pressure during her probation as a teacher. She has to finish her research. Secondly, Jingqiu’s father is in a re-education camp for being a “Right Wing”. On the other hand, Sun’s father is working in the military. It seems that these two families are impossible to be united. And in the situation like that, the blossoming of a hawthorn tree (the landmark of the Xiping Village) becomes a symbol of their longing and loyalty. The plot of the movie is simple. Knowing the outline is enough to follow it without difficulties, eventhough the movie is presented in Chinese language. Nevertheless, despite its simplicity, it plays with our emotions. It is touching. Some scenes can deeply move the viewers. One of them is this: When the relationship has been revealed to Jingqiu’s mother, she prohibits Sun from visiting her daughter. It is dangerous and can endanger Jing’s probation as a teacher. Sun promises not to visit her anymore. But Sun asks one thing, that is to bandage Jingqiu’s wounded feet. Here is the touching moment: while Sun is bandaging Jing’s feet, tears roll down from their eyes. Even so, the naivety of the girl can make viewers smile. In the hospital, when she visits Sun secretly, she has no place to stay that night. Then they look for an unused room for them. Jingqiu is afraid to share the same bed, because she thinks that merely sharing a bed may cause pregnancy. It is a romance movie. But we do not need to think about a wild romance as it is usually presented by the western movies. The promotion says that it is “the cleanest romance in history”. And I absolutely agree. It is recommended for young people. After watching lots of western and Indonesian romance melodramas, they need another perspective of what love is. The movie helps them see this other
The movie is based on a true story during the Cultural
Revolution in China, which was then novelized. Jingqiu, 17-year old
girl, is in her last year of high school. But she is sent to Xiping
Village to learn from the peasants, and to conduct a research for
the school curriculum. In that village she meets Sun Jianxing. Sun
falls in love with her and gives her little gifts and makes
frequent visits. Jingqiu has to return to the city. She and Sun
begin to date secretly. Actually the relationship is dangerous for
them. Firstly, she is under tremendous pressure during her
probation as a teacher. She has to finish her research. Secondly,
Jingqius father is in a re-education camp for being a Right Wing.
On the other hand, Suns father is working in the military. It seems
that these two families are impossible to be united. And in the
situation like that, the blossoming of a hawthorn tree (the
landmark of the Xiping Village) becomes a symbol of their longing
and loyalty.
The plot of the movie is simple. Knowing the outline is enough
to follow it without difficulties, eventhough the movie is
presented in Chinese language. Nevertheless, despite its
simplicity, it plays with our emotions. It is touching. Some scenes
can deeply move the viewers. One of them is this: When the
relationship has been revealed to Jingqius mother, she prohibits
Sun from visiting her daughter. It is dangerous and can endanger
Jings probation as a teacher. Sun promises not to visit her
anymore. But Sun asks one thing, that is to bandage Jingqius
wounded feet. Here is the touching moment: while Sun is bandaging
Jings feet, tears roll down from their eyes.Even so, the naivety of
the girl can make viewers smile. In the hospital, when she visits
Sun secretly, she has no place to stay that night. Then they look
for an unused room for them. Jingqiu is afraid to share the same
bed, because she thinks that merely sharing a bed may cause
pregnancy. It is a romance movie. But we do not need to think about
a wild romance as it is usually presented by the western movies.
The promotion says that it is the cleanest romance in history. And
I absolutely agree. It is recommended for young people. After
watching lots of western and Indonesian romance melodramas, they
need another perspective of what love is. The movie helps them see
this other point of view. Love is really beautiful in its
simplicity. True love doesnt endanger the future of the beloved.
The ability to say No to the temptations saves their love. It is an
inspiring true love story. And from my own perspective as a male
viewer, Sun shows me what being a real man is.
