
Ju Dou
1990, Drama, 1h 38m
19 Reviews 5,000+ RatingsYou might also like

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Where to watch
Ju Dou Photos
Movie Info
Ju Dou (Gong Li), the young bride of Yang Jin-shan (Wei Li), who is the tyrannical owner of a silk-dyeing business, is forced to endure her husband's violent tendencies and condescending nature. Although Ju Dou finds temporary solace in the arms of her husband's nephew, Tian-qing (Baotian Li), problems arise when Ju Dou gets pregnant. The couple then desperately tries to hide their passionate romance while convincing the merciless Jin-shan that the child is his.
Cast & Crew
Gong Li
Ju Dou
Ju Dou
Baotian Li
Yang Tian-qing
Yang Tian-qing
Wei Li
Yang Jin-shan
Yang Jin-shan
Zhang Yi
Tianbai as child
Tianbai as child
Zhen Ji-an
Yang Tian-bai as a Youth
Yang Tian-bai as a Youth
Yimou Zhang
Director
Director
Critic Reviews for Ju Dou
Audience Reviews for Ju Dou
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May 11, 2016"Ju Dou" tells the story of love between two people at the mercy of a cruel uncle and husband. Yang Tianqing (Li Baotian) is working for his uncle Yang Jinshan (Li Wei) at his textile mill where he dyes fabric. Tianqing learns that his uncle has purchased a new wife, this is his third, he had beat the other two to death for not being able to produce him a boy. It's no fault of these women, he's impotent and takes this anger out on these women. The new wife, and the new aunt to Tianqing, is a beautiful young woman named Ju Dou (Li Gong). Tiaqing becomes smitten with her, spying on her as she undresses and bathes. Soon, the two become lovers and she becomes pregnant with his son. Jinshan believes the kid is his until he becomes paralyzed and is forced to rely upon the two to take care of him. After several failed attempts at trying to kill the kid, he is put in a barrell high above the ground. He eventually comes to love the kid as his son when the kid accidentily refers to him as father setting about a chain of events that will end tragic. Beautifully filmed by Zhang Yimou on three-strip Technicolor. It has an aged feeling in it's beauty, but magnificently show it's yellows, golds and reds in such exuberance.Joseph B Super Reviewer
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Feb 16, 2010My first encounter with Zhang Yimou and it left a lasting impression. A must see for sure.John B Super Reviewer
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Apr 08, 2009The story is both unpleasant and yet interesting. Few of the characters really connected with me. Ju Dou, becomes the object of sympathy right from the start. Her life is horrible, and even the relationship with Tianqing ultimately strikes me as unsatisfying, because frankly Tianqing was a wimp. The character of Tianqinq comes across as childish and immature and afraid of everything. In a way, the most powerful character was the adolescent Tianbai, Ju Dou's son. He only appears in the last part of the movie, but he comes across as completely hateful and totally unemotional. It all leads up to a tragic and confusing ending. The love scenes and violence are visual limited, because of Chinese limitations, I guess, But all in all Ju Dou is a stunning film and worth to watch.Daisy M Super Reviewer
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Jan 18, 2009A tragic love story set against the colorful backdrop of a Chinese dye mill. The fantastic cinematography makes <i>Ju-Dou</i> a treat for the eyes even though the story is heartbreaking and sad. Highly recommended!Randy T Super Reviewer
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