The Story of Qiu Ju
Seen it?1992 | 100 min | Comedy, Drama
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (87% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Funny with heart.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 40 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- It's in Chinese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
When her husband is kicked in the groin by the village head, Qiu Ju, a peasant woman, despite her pregnancy, travels to a nearby town, and later a big city to deal with its bureaucrats and find justice.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
87% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 Venice award: Golden Lion. Plus 2 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$2 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 17K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Atonement
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed drama.
Pride & Prejudice Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed drama.
Animal Farm Sunday Safe BetAnother drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas Sunday Safe BetAnother comedy, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Seabiscuit
Saturday SpecialAnother drama, and a Saturday Special.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Zhang Yimou
- Gong LiQiu Ju
- Liu PeiqiWan Qinglai
- Liuchun YangMeizi
- Lei KeshengWang Shantang
- Ge ZhijunOfficer Li
- Wanqing Zhu
- Luowen Cui
- Huiqin Yang
- Jianfa Wang
- Zi Lin