Daughter from Yan'an (En'an No Musume)

Running time: N/A

Haixa works the fields in Yan'an, a poor village in remote China, where her parents, who were relocated to Yan'an during the Cultural Revolution, abandoned her as a newborn 28 years ago. Determined to find her parents, she enlists the help of Huang Yuing, an accused counter-revolutionary, who was also "sent down" to Yan'an. Huang Yuing, who has still not fully recovered from the painful experience of being denounced by the Red Guard, agrees to help Haixa on her journey to uncover the truth of her life. Director Ikeya Kaoru vibrantly captures the village life of rural China with scenes of exquisite landscapes and humble surroundings. But Kaoru's film is much more than Haixa's personal odyssey. With the historical backdrop of the Cultural Revolution, Kaoru examines the damaged lives of the innocent victims of a fanatical time, some who still revere Mao, and others who can never forgive the damage his movement has done. Both tender and heartbreaking, Daughter from Yan'an is a moving tale of a child seeking love and acceptance, uncertain if she will find it. - Sandy Wolf