Aftershock (PG) 8.0

Aftershock (2010) 唐山大地震; Tángshān Dàdìzhèn: The epic story of a family separated as a result of the Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976. (7.3)

Director: Xiaogang Feng
Writers: Wu Si (screenplay), Ling Zhang (novel)
Stars: Daoming Chen, Chen Li, Jingchu Zhang, Yi Lu
Language: Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)

We've heard the moral dilemma about five workers on a track with a speeding train and the single worker on a another track ... would you kill one to save the five? Yes, this movie asks such moral questions. Then what unfolds is the human drama with all the consequences of such a decision. The story uses the major events in China's recent past as backdrops to follow the trials of one family. A lot of effort has been put into making the 70's, 80's, 90's look realistic. Acting is powerful in that you really feel the emotions the characters go through. Difficult as it is to tell a story that spans multiple decades, this movie accomplishes the task quite well. As an added bonus, we the outsiders can get a glimpse into the transformation of the Chinese society into the modern times. The story takes you through an emotional roller-coaster. If you like human dramas, I highly recommend this movie. My Rating: 8.0