‘Living the Land’ Earns Acclaim as a Poignant Portrait of Rural China in Transition

Huo Meng’s second feature captures the struggles and resilience of a farming family in 1991 as modernization begins to reshape their lives.

Set in a Henan village in 1991, the film follows a multi-generational farming family navigating the pressures of tradition and the encroaching forces of modernization.
The story centers on 10-year-old Chuang, who is left behind by his parents to live with relatives, highlighting themes of displacement and familial bonds.
Huo Meng’s direction and Guo Daming’s cinematography vividly depict the rhythms of rural life, with meticulous attention to cultural rituals and the natural environment.
The film examines the challenges faced by women in the community, including arranged marriages and state-mandated family planning practices.
Praised for its authenticity, the film features non-professional actors from the region and was selected for the main competition at the Berlin International Film Festival.