To Live

To Live (1994) starring Ge You, Gong Li. Spanning three decades -- the '40s, '50s and '60s -- this movie tells the story on one family in China and how they cope with continuous historic changes. First comes the Communist revolution in 1949, then the Great Leap Forward in 1958, then the Cultural Revolution in 1969. Always in the background is Mao Zedong, their beloved leader. I found the film quite moving, especially Gong Li's performance, although it was Ge You who won the Best Actor laurels at Cannes. (In Chinese, with English subtitles.) Grade: A-