Lu Lu in "Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl."

MOVIE INFORMATION

With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film an: Stars: Lu Lu and Lopsang Director: Joan Chen Rated: R, strong violence, sex, rape. In Chinese with English subtitles Length: 99 minutes

ROCHESTERCRITIQUE

Having seen this film, how would you rate it? 10 5 9 4 8 3 7 2 6 1

By Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle

(July 23, 1999) -- Joan Chen, the Shanghai-born star of The Last Emperor and television's Twin Peaks, makes an impressive directorial debut with Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl, a painfully potent tale of China's Cultural Revolution of the late '60s.

When first glimpsed, Xiu Xiu (played by Lu Lu) is a playful young girl in the Chinese city of Cheng-du. But the Maoist government is pulling students from schools and sending them into the countryside for other experiences. Xiu Xiu is "sent down" to learn horse training on the desolate plains of Tibet, with the hope that she can one day be part of the Girls Iron Cavalry.

She's assigned to the tent of Lao Jin (Lopsang), a middle-aged horseman who'd been rendered a eunuch during a savage tribal attack years earlier. Though initially gruff and distant, Lao Jin soon shows himself to be a kind, concerned man -- even building Xiu Xiu a makeshift bath on the top of a nearby hill.

Xiu Xiu shows little interest in the horses and soon wishes she could find a way home. When her assignment drifts well beyond the allotted six months, she loses faith.

Having grown into an attractive young woman, Xiu Xiu tries to use sex to better her situation -- taking bureaucrats into her bed, while the disapproving Lan Jin busies himself making tea or taking care of the horses.

Unfortunately, Xiu Xiu's scheme backfires -- her Tibetan assignment continues indefinitely -- the bureaucrats are too fond of Xiu Xiu's favors to ship her back home. The girl's sad lot becomes increasingly tragic.

Xiu Xiu has been adapted by Chen and co-writer Yan Geling from Geling's novella. It was artfully filmed in Tibet, even though filmmakers couldn't get official permission from the Tibetan government.

The desolation of the plains becomes clear in the panoramas by cinematographer Lu Yue (a regular with noted Chinese director Zhang Yimou), and Chen is skilled at directing her lead actors to poignant performances.

Through Lu Lu's portrayal of Xiu Xiu's youthful exuberance, her growing anger and frustration and ultimate despair, Chen presents an unnerving message about man's inhumanity to women, along with the wasteful stupidity of the Cultural Revolution.