Drama Digest
The story was set in Puhe Village, where oranges and tangerine were harvested in huge quantities. At the beginning of the movie, it is shown that the village party secretary retired from his position and offers Yang Liying to stand for the party secretary elections. The villagers elect Yang Liying as the new secretary. The council approves two proposals for the village’s development. First, all varieties of oranges and tangerine in the village are to be significantly improved, second, industrial roads to be built, connecting the orchard of each household. Also, with the government’s approval and the investment from the boss, they will build 300 villas.
The Feel-Good Part
Yang Liying is determined to do the best for her villagers. She fiercely supports everyone and is up to do anything for their welfare. Also, though the story revolves around the harvest, there are some funny parts. In a way, the whole movie feels good.
The Disappointing Factor
The plot is predictable. It just felt like there were two problems, and they overcame them in the 1hr 52min duration. Also, the issues were not that complex, and the story didn’t feel that strong. The camera work is not very satisfying.
In-Depth Analysis
The story revolves mainly around Yang Liying, but there are many supporting characters play a crucial role, and they almost feel like the main leads. They show the complex realities of village life and show how much even a small change in environmental factors affects their harvest. When the soil quality deteriorates, the quality of oranges also deteriorates. The oranges start rotting because they don’t have cold storage. Due to some problems, the construction of their houses stops. It is a typical story of hardships and getting over them.
Star Power
Yue Hong playing the role of Yang Liying, is a brilliant actor. She did the part of the hard-working and determined woman amazingly. The actors in the supporting role also did a remarkable job. Everyone was immersed in their character fully. But also, at some points, things felt scripted like during the council meetings, the villager’s unison “yes” were too unnatural. Overall, the star power was good.
Overall Opnion
The movie shows a good rural China. If you are looking for a light-hearted, satisfying film with a shade of complications, this one is for you.
