3. Fengxia is a daughter of the new China. What does it mean for the daughter of the new China to be silent or silenced? Why is she the one who cannot speak?
4. Yongqing is the son of Fugui and Jaizhen. Sons have long been preferred in Chinese society. He is
pampered, yet nevertheless, he dies young. It is an old friend, who is now a communist party leader, who
has accidentally killed the boy. What might be the significance of that death?
5. Wan Er'xi is the husband of Fengxia. Why is he considered a suitable husband for Fengxia?
6. Long'er represents the old culture. He has won the house from Fugul. What happens to him and what
might it mean?
7. The shadow puppet show is a recurring motif in the film. Keep track of the times the shadow puppets
appear or are referred to in the film.
8. Social structures: Make note of the types of community interaction and traditions in the film. Observe the
roles of grandparents, parents, and children
9. Make note of the number of different campaigns of conflicts in the film. (Examples: Civil War, land reform,
landlord and counterrevolutionary, Great Leap Forward, Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (1966-1976).
barefoot doctors)