Under the Hawthorn Tree

A sparkling tale of forbidden love, honour and loyalty during the Cultural Revolution in The People’s Republic of China. Under the Hawthorn Tree is based on real events and director Zhang Yimou has adapted the story from Ai Mi's bestselling Internet novel by the same title. Jing, a college student from town, is sent to a remote mountain village for ‘reeducation’. Her father has been put behind bars for being a counter-revolutionary and now Jing’s mother must try to support her three children on her own. Jing knows that not only her own future but that of her family now depends on how the authorities judge her efforts to be reeducated.

Jing’s careful and inconspicuous behaviour comes to an end, however, when she falls in love with Sun, the engaging son of a high-ranking officer. Given their completely different backgrounds, their love is not only hopeless but also dangerous. At first Jing resists Sun’s advances, but he refuses to give up, even when she returns to town. Before long, the two young people are passionately – but secretly – in love. But then Sun suddenly disappears, and when he reappears, something about him has changed. Jing has to rethink her perception of love, honour and loyalty, and stand up for her real beliefs. akek