Great films adapted from Chinese novels

1942 (2012)

Directed by: Feng Xiaogang

Adapted from Remembering 1942 by Liu Zhenyun

Awards: Best Cross-strait Chinese Film at 32nd Hong Kong Film Awards

A disastrous drought caused a severe famine in Henan province in 1942. Landlord Fan Dianyuan took all of his valuable belongings, food supplies and family members on a horse-drawn carriage to escape to Shaanxi province, confident that he would survive. After three months, Fan has lost his carriage, the horse and most of his family members. He started out to save his family from the famine, and now, they are all dead. Fan makes the decision to go back to his hometown, not to live but only to die closer to home. On his way, he meets a little girl who has lost her family as well. Fan comforts her and tells her not to cry. The little girl says she is not crying because her father died, but because everyone she knew has died. Fan is overwhelmed with mixed feelings, takes her hand and continued down the road. This time, not to die, but to live closer to home.

Chinese figures in Venice	16 Chinese films with a Cannes Award	Chinese at the Oscars