Watch Xiu Xiu

Xiu Xiu: The Sent-down Girl is a 1998 Chinese drama film by acclaimed director Joan Chen. The movie is based on a novella by Geling Yan, and it portrays the story of a young girl named Xiu Xiu, who gets sent to a remote, rural area in China as part of the "Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside Movement" during the Cultural Revolution.

The movie is set in the late 1960s and early 1970s during China's Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. The protagonist, 15-year-old Xiu Xiu (played by Lu Lu), comes from an urban background and is sent to a remote area of Tibet to live with a family of horse trainers. Xiu Xiu has to work alongside the family in exchange for food and lodging, and she quickly learns the challenges of rural life.

Despite the language barrier and differences in culture, Xiu Xiu forms a bond with her "sister," the young daughter of the horse trainer family. However, Xiu Xiu's fate takes a dark turn when she discovers that her true purpose for being sent to Tibet is to become a wife for Lao Jin (Lopsang), a wealthy local horse trader. Xiu Xiu refuses the marriage proposals from Lao Jin, and her refusal puts her in a dangerous situation.

Throughout the film, the audience can feel Xiu Xiu's sense of isolation and desperation as she tries to escape from the rural area and return to the city. Numerous attempts are made by Xiu Xiu to gain material possessions in order to pay off Lao Jin's bribe, but every attempt proves to be futile. In desperation, Xiu Xiu turns to a local bandit in hopes of escaping Tibet and going back home.

The film delivers a heart-wrenching narrative of a young girl being forced to grow up too fast in a harsh environment. Chen's direction is masterly and draws out engaging performances from the cast members. Lu Lu, in particular, gives a brilliant performance, delivering a performance that is so natural that you forget you are watching an actress.

The cinematography by Lu Yue is breathtaking, capturing the vast landscape of Tibet stunningly. The colors used in the film are vibrant and vivid, and they stand in stark contrast with the bleakness of Xiu Xiu's life. The score is minimalistic, but it adds to the film's sense of emptiness and despair.

Xiu Xiu: The Sent-Down Girl is an intense drama that captures the humanistic side of a dark, turbulent period of Chinese history. The film's examination of survival, integrity, and sacrifice in a difficult situation is moving and intense, resonating long after the ending credits roll. This movie is a must-see, particularly for those interested in history or coming-of-age films.