Movie Adaptation
In the film adaptation, this family member survives until the end, while they die before the novel concludes.
Who is Jiazhen?
This family member's death indirectly saves Fugui from suffering the same fate during a political campaign.
Who is Long Er?
Although Long Er appears to be the winner when he acquires the Xu estate, the novel later presents him as a victim of this.
What is political change/the Communist Revolution?
This occurs immediately after Fugui returns from the war.
What is reuniting with his family?
After losing the family fortune, what occupation does Fugui take up to support his family?
What is farming (or working the land as a peasant farmer)?
Unlike the novel, the film places much greater emphasis on this profession that Fugui adopts after losing his fortune.
What is shadow puppet performance (or puppetry)?
Fengxia survives years of hardship but dies during an event that should represent new beginnings.
What is childbirth?
Jiazhen's decision to return to Fugui demonstrates this trait despite everything he has done.
What is loyalty?
This happens first: Youqing's death, Fengxia's marriage, or Fugui's military service.
What is Fugui's military service?
At the beginning of the novel, the narrator first encounters Fugui while doing this.
What is collecting folk songs?
The film adaptation devotes considerably more attention to this period of Chinese history than the novel does.
What is the Cultural Revolution?
The blood that kills Youqing is taken to save the life of someone connected to this government official.
Who is the county magistrate/governor?
At the beginning of the novel, Fugui values this more than responsibility.
What is pleasure (or excitement)?
Place these events in order: Long Er's execution, Youqing's death, Fengxia's marriage.
What is Long Er's execution → Youqing's death → Fengxia's marriage?
The illness that leaves Fengxia unable to speak occurs during this period of her childhood.
What is a severe childhood fever?
In the novel, Youqing dies after donating blood to save a government official's wife. In the film, he dies when he is struck by this type of vehicle.
A Jeep
Erxi survives poverty and discrimination related to his disability but dies because of this workplace accident.
What is being crushed by concrete/cement at a construction site?
Fugui's greatest transformation is not economic but this.
What is moral/personal growth?
Place these in order: Erxi's death, Fengxia's death, Kugen's death, Jiazhen's death.
What is Jiazhen → Fengxia → Erxi → Kugen?
What item does Jiazhen secretly sell in order to help support the family after Fugui has ruined them financially?
What is her jewelry? (earrings, personal valuables, or dowry items)
By changing Youqing's death from a blood donation tragedy to a vehicle accident, the film shifts responsibility away from the medical system and onto this.
What is government authority/political power?
Kugen's death is particularly cruel because it occurs after the family has finally regained this.
What is hope for the future?
Unlike many protagonists, Fugui's final achievement is not success but this.
What is endurance/survival?
Which major family death occurs first after the establishment of Communist rule?
Who is Youqing?
The final scene features only Fugui and the ox, reinforcing the novel's cyclical emphasis on this idea.
What is enduring/living despite loss?