This epic saga from the director of RAISE THE RED LANTERN follows four generations of one family as they struggle through the turbulence of 20th-century China. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival.

When the irresponsible Xu Fugui loses his family's fortune during a gambling spree, he causes his loved ones incredible hardship. Fugui's father dies from a heart attack upon hearing the news, and his pregnant wife abandons him. Unable to put bread on the table, even for himself, Fugui works as a street vender, and when his wife notices his uncustomary humility, she returns. Within a year, Fugui desires to open a shop but is unable to raise the necessary funds. Instead of money, the local loan shark gives him his old shadow puppets. Soon, Fugui masters the art of puppetry, which increases his paltry income -- but also serves as propaganda for the imminent Communist Revolution.

Produced in China and Hong Kong by ERA International, Ltd. and Shanghai Film Studios.

Additional cast: Guo Tao (Chunsheng), Jiang Wu (Wan Erxi) and Ni Dahong (Long'er).

Rated BBFC 12 by the British Board of Film Classification.

DVD Features:

Keep Case
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Stereo - English
Mono - French, Spanish
Subtitles - English, French, Spanish - Optional

Ge You: Actor/"To Live"
Gong Li: Chinese Actress/"Ju-Dou"

Yimou Zhang: Chinese Director/Director Of Photography

"...[Ge You] gives a masterfully underplayed performance..."
"...In two magnificent performances, [Li] carries the story's emotions and [You] the weight of history....[TO LIVE] would be an extravagant and emotional film, even if it weren't a politically brave one too..."
"...Engrossing....A story that transcends all cultural boundaries." -- Rating: A
"...Masterful, stirring....It possesses both vast scope and intimacy, humor and sorrow, complex characterizations, richness of incident and an awareness of the quixotic role fate plays in all our destinies..."
"...It is a big, strong, energetic film..."
"...Chameleonic Gong adds another memorable portrait to her gallery..."