Watch Shanghai Dreams

Shanghai Dreams is a 2005 Chinese film directed by Wang Xiaoshuai. The film stars Yuanyuan Gao, Bin Li, and Hao Qin in lead roles. Shanghai Dreams is a family drama about a young girl's personal and emotional struggle to come to terms with her family's past and future. The film is set in the late 1980s in the small industrial town of Tumen, where the Chinese government resettled thousands of city workers during the Cultural Revolution. The story centers around a single family, who moved from Shanghai to Tumen when the protagonist, Qinghong (Yuanyuan Gao) was just a child.

The family's life in Tumen is not easy, as they are surrounded by poverty and political unrest. They are all outsiders in a new town where they do not know anyone. They struggle to find jobs, schools, and accommodation. They are also a family of three with no support network.

Qinghong's father, Lao Yie (Bin Li), was once a staunch supporter of the Communist Party. However, as time passed, he begins to resent his job and the Communist Party. He often speaks openly against the government, which attracts the attention of the local authorities. Amidst the political tensions and uncertainties, Qinghong struggles to adjust to her life in Tumen. She yearns to return to Shanghai, where she feels she can belong.

She discovers the harsh reality of life in Tumen, where the government does not provide the same quality of life as in the city. She experiences firsthand the prejudice that city people face when they move to a small, rural town. Qinghong also struggles with her sense of identity, as she is torn between her Shanghai roots and her life in Tumen.

The film weaves together themes of generational gaps, national identity, and class divides, as the family works through their struggles. Lao Yie struggles with his own sense of disillusionment, and his stubborn attitude results in a rift between him and his wife, Meiling (played by filmmaker Han Sanming).

Qinghong is the most compelling character in the film. She is a teenager trying to figure out what her place in the world is. She questions the authority of her father and the government, and she is discontent with her life in Tumen. She is a dreamer, and she longs to return to Shanghai to pursue her dreams and follow her heart.

As Qinghong navigates through her teenage years, she must also face her family's past. Her mother has always hidden the truth from her about their family's roots and the reason they left Shanghai. In the film, it is revealed that Qinghong's parents were former Nationalist Party members who fled to Shanghai after the Communists took over China. Qinghong struggles to come to terms with her family's past and the role it played in their current situation.

Shanghai Dreams is a well-crafted film that provides a glimpse into the lives of people in small-town China in the 1980s. The film is beautifully shot, with stunning cinematography that captures the essence of the period. The performances by the actors are powerful, and the pacing of the film is just right, allowing the audience to connect with the characters and feel empathy for their struggles.

Overall, Shanghai Dreams is a poignant and emotional film that resonates with the audience. It is a story about families, dreams, and the sacrifices people make to pursue them. Shanghai Dreams is a film that will leave an impression long after it ends.