Shanghai Dreams

Soon before the Cultural Revolution, many bright young things were persuaded to move from China’s major cities to semi-rural provinces for industrial purposes. Wang’s tremendous family drama traces the fall-out one one family in Guiyang: the bitter but idealistic dad (Yan) regrets leaving Shanghai, angrily blocking his teenage daughter’s (Gao) attempts at a social life with potentially devastating results. Although not without its lighter moments – bell-bottoms and Boney M can’t help but provoke a smile, whatever the context – this is essentially a grim tale of sacrifice, chosen and imposed. Fascinating history, assured film-making and moving, even tragic drama.