To Live

I though the the differences between Chinese and American culture would make this
film not applicable to me. But the themes of family in To Live were universal. The film
was a poignant representation of family dynamics that trancended cultural demarcations.

One thing I noticed about this film was how despite all the evidence, the Fugui and his wife did not blame the Communist government for their pitfalls in life. When his son, while smelting iron for during the Great Leap Forward, was killed by the District superintendent Fugui did not blame the government for the death of his son. From a capitalist perespective, it would seem that the government was directly responsible, but fugui didn't seem to hold the Communist regime responsible.

This happened again with the death of his daughter in the emergency room. Because all of the doctors were imprisoned and blamed to be "capitalists," there were no doctors on call to help save his daughter from pregnancy complications. Again, the pervasive ideology of the communist party was directly responsible for his daughters death, but he seemed to blame himself at the end rather than the government.

I think a lot of this has to do with the collectivism in Chinese culture. Though this film concentrates on one man's family, Fugui, and his interaction with the government through changing political times, the sentiment of Fugui is collectivist rather than individualistic. I think the differences between Western and Eastern philosphy is articiculated through this film.

I also though it was funny how people were being accused of being "capitalist" in China during the same time as the McCarthy era in the United States. I see that as very ironic.