Home » Feature » Art and Culture
Film re-enacts history, revives old memories
Print Edition
“EXAMINATION 1977” is a 2009 movie about the restoration of China’s national college entrance examination or gaokao after the 10-year “cultural revolution” (1966-76) and its impact on both old and young generations.
“Restoring gaokao is much more important than gaokao itself.” That’s also the resonating storyline in Jiang Haiyang’s film.
Against a backdrop of the cold wilderness of northeastern China’s Heilongjiang Province in the 1970s, the nostalgic film highlights the struggles and pursuit of many zhiqing or intellectual youth who were sent to the countryside for “re-education.”
The story revolves around Pan Zhiyou (played by Wang Xuebing) and several other zhiqing.
One day, news came from far away that national college entrance exam would be restored, and the young people who dreamed of going home in Shanghai and Beijing started discussing on how to prepare for the exam.
But the head of the farm Lao Chi (played by Sun Haiying) is still stuck in the old system, in which his approval is required to send candidates. To show his authority, Lao Chi tries every means to stop these young people from preparing for the exam, but their perseverance and passion finally touch him.
Dubbed as the common people’s epic film, “Examination 1977” is a real tear-jerker. It shows not only an individual’s desperate pursuit of changes in life but also represents a nation’s respect and craving for knowledge after a decade-long tumultuous period.
Though it reflects upon a traumatic time in history, the film is heartwarming and aspiring as all the conflicts reconcile and humanitarian elements stand out.
Xiong Xiaoge, the film’s investor, is a participant of the 1977 gaokao, a turning point in his life and the inspiration of the movie.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
