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Back to 1942
一九四二
2012 145 min China, Hong Kong 16+
★6.2
War, Drama
Director: Xiaogang Feng
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
In 1942, Henan Province was devastated by one of the most tragic famines in modern Chinese history, resulting in the deaths of at least three million men, women and children. Although the primary cause of the famine was a severe drought, it was exacerbated by locusts, windstorms, earthquakes, epidemic disease and the corruption of the ruling Kuomintang government.
US Gross:
$312,954
Worldwide:
$311
Starring
Guoli Zhang
Actor
Hanyu Zhang
Actor
Wei Fan
Actor
Awards
33 wins & 21 nominations total
Key opinion
Back to 1942 is a harrowing, visually ambitious historical drama that succeeds in portraying the desperation of the Henan famine through grounded, realistic performances. However, the film faces significant criticism regarding its historical framing, the uneven integration of Hollywood actors, and the inclusion of graphic, divisive scenes that some viewers found exploitative.
| Acting | Zhang Guoli anchors the film with a deeply compelling and layered performance as the displaced landlord. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography effectively captures the brutal, gritty atmosphere and raw human suffering of the refugee trek. | |
| Score | The score is skillfully composed to heighten the psychological tension of the famine and war-torn setting. | |
| Acting | The involvement of Hollywood stars like Tim Robbins and Adrien Brody is polarizing, as some find them emotionally detached or underutilized compared to the Chinese cast. | |
| Theme | Opinions on the film's depiction of violence are split; while some appreciate the commitment to naturalistic tragedy, others find scenes involving the suffering of animals and the graphic loss of life to be vulgar and excessive. |