Under The Norton Tree Analysis

Another one of director Zhang Yimou has masterfully created is Under the Hawthorn Tree is no less than impressive than any of his other films, it’s visual imagery as well as vivid setting is very well dated and precisely. Set during the end of China's Cultural Revolution in a small village in Yichang City, China, this film is about a pure love that develops between a beautiful high school student, Zhang Jing Qiu and a handsome young lad, Lao San. Despite the fact that this could endanger the future of Jing Qiu and her family, as her mother is being watched by the Communist Party, Jing Qiu and Lao San continues to blossom and grow. Jing Qiu is torn between her feelings for Lao San and her duty to uphold her honor with her family. The two carry out a …show more content…
Jingqiu's education requires her to undergo a strict probationary period, during which time she must fall in line with the school's tight rules and regulations, which forbid any sort of romance. Zhang work with the camera is particularly understated; small objects like washing basins and light bulbs become tokens of love when focused upon directly. One example of this is during the scene of their last moments together, when they are across the bridge from each other, there are simple colors of an overpowering green that captures both characters as they are in white. The ‘air hug’ that the two share is shown through different perspectives as the viewer sees Jingqiu’s smile at the end and wave goodbye gives meaning that she hopes to see him again while Lao San’s expression is that of sadness as he is still postponed in that hug and his arms shaking. The muted colors employed by director of photography Zhao Xiaoding complement the film's quiet and subtle style as well as focusing on main points. Such as the scene earlier that is implied is shown that since the two character wear white they stand out more, and so the focus points are on