Ju Dou (1990) Reviews

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A dark, sensual, and visually sumptuous drama, Ju Dou centers on the title character, the third wife of a wealthy silk dyer in 1920s China. Forced into marriage by poverty, Ju Dou is repeatedly mistreated and cruelly disciplined by her husband, Jin-shan, for failing to bear him an heir. Her suffering attracts the sympathy of Jin-shan's younger, kinder nephew, Tian-qing, and the two begin a secret affair that could have tragic consequences. Spanning the course of many years, the film's narrative takes several surprising turns, defying expectations and complicating audience sympathies. None of the film's characters is wholly heroic or evil, allowing all three central performers -- Li Bao-tian as Tian-qing, Li Wei as Jin-shan, and the luminous Gong Li as Ju Dou -- to fashion memorable, complex portrayals. Director Zhang Yimou, a former cinematographer, uses gorgeously saturated images that emphasize his story's elemental nature, which often recalls classical tragedy. Met with controversy in China due to supposed political overtones that worried government officials, Ju Dou received fairer treatment overseas, winning an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and numerous festival prizes. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

Starring:: Gong Li, Li Baotian, (more)

Director(s):: Zhang Yimou

Theatrical MPAA Rating:: PG13

Format(s):: DVD
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Average Ratings

(4 member reviews)

Member Reviews

	William A.

5 out of 6 people found this review helpful

beyond the beautiful color, the film is most interesting in the way it conceals/reveals a metaphor of moaist china through the telling of a tragic domestic drama. fine performances and wonderful cinematography. warning: this dvd, like 'raise the red lantern', is a poor print that does not reveal the original beauty of the film. sadly, it is the only thing available. the poor quality is magnified through projection. criterion needs to get a hold of zhang yimou's work.

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	Erin G.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

I love Zhang Yimou's work. I love Gong Li. And I generally love Chinese tragedies. But other than the usual gorgeous use of color and lighting, I just found this torturous to watch. There was nothing satisfying about the story, characters, or their relationships. And the deliberate pacing and melodrama was just overkill. I know some will think me heretical, but this was almost laughably depressing. Other than the awesome falling reams of dyed cloth, I found very little redeeming in this disappointing film.

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	Clyde P.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Interesting film, but a little tedious. Lots of beautiful color(all the dyes, etc.)and the film gives a lot to the landscape, but the story can seem a little slow. It does take some different turns as you weave thru the story.

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	Donald A.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful

Its amazing to think this is Zhang Yimous WORST movie, because its still very good. The visuals are crazy good, i mean have you ever seen anything close to the idea of basing a set on dye vats below endless hanging miles of silk? And for more earthly delights we have Gong Li to look at. Its another tragedy with deadly consequences as in many of his movies, this one is luscious to look at, but the characters arent quite as perfectly imagined as his other tragedies, its a rather cramped and predictable set of events compared to his other masterpieces, try Raise the Red Lantern or Curse of the Golden Flower first.

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