User:Beanta/Li Shuangshuang

Original Article
Li Shuangshuang

Plot
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Characters

 * Li Shuangshuang played by Ruifang Zhang
 * Sun Xiwang played by Zhong Xing-Huo
 * Sun Youquan
 * Sun Yong played by Cui Wenshun
 * Jinqiao played by Liu Fei
 * Clerk Liu
 * Er Chun played by Li Kang'er
 * Guiying played by Zhang Wenrong
 * Sun Youpo played by Zhi Shiming

Importance of Hard Work
In this film, the main character Li ShuangShuang is meant to serve as a role model for viewers. One of the main values that the film promotes is hard work and honesty. This film was made as a propaganda piece and the protagonist reflects similar ideas and values of women labor models of the time. During this period of Chinese history there was a high demand for rural women workers and positions like labor models were meant to encourage women to work. Not only did she encourage other women, and men, to work hard but she also held her community accountable. She is honest about the work she does and often works harder than others for the sake of her community. During this film she gets into numerous arguments with other members of her commune regarding them stealing or doing their work quickly and poorly in order to get more points. She is meant to be a good influence for other members of the community. Li Shuangshuang is a very active member of the community and her integrity for hard work is valued above niceties. Her value for hard work is also praised and she becomes a leader within her community.

Community
Another moral value that is communicated in this film is the importance of community. Communes such as the one depicted in this film were endorsed by the government during The Great Leap as an attempt at social reorganization. This theme is important to this film as it is what influences many of the decisions made by Li Shuangshuang. These decisions and impacts she makes drive the story. Her suggestion for the points system, her altercations with other characters, and her self-sacrificing actions are for the good of the commune.

The main conflict within this story is Li Shuangshuang's fight for fair division of labor and a points system to ensure it. She promotes women working in the fields as it contributes to a fair division of labor and betters the community.

There are multiple physical representations of community within the film as well. The entire commune is pictured together a few times for meetings and social gatherings. The voices and opinions of all members of the community are considered when making decisions and assigning new jobs.

There is also a theme of community among the women within the commune. Eating meals together, laughing and spending time with one another, the viewer witnesses bonds and friendship between the women.

Marriage
Within this film is the theme of marriage within the main plot as well as a subplot. This theme addresses traditional versus contemporary ideas of marriage and troubles within marriage. In this story's subplot the viewer meets a young girl who is friendly with our protagonist and is a neighbor within the commune. It explains how this girl has a long-term boyfriend and they are very in love with each other. However, we soon learn that her parents have arranged for her to get married to a man in the city. Distraught by this chain of events, the girl confides in Li Shuangshuang. Li Shuangshuang gets involved and prevents the marriage by approaching the man from the city and explaining the situation to him. He agrees that marriage should be for love and he leaves. The young girl's mother discovers how Li Shuangshuang ruined her plans and is furious. Once again Li Shuangshuang represents a shift in societal ideas. This time period witnessed shifts in marriage law and promotion of love marriage.

The marriage between Li Shuangshuang and her husband is also an important aspect of the plot and a dynamic one. Initially there are pressures and strain on their marriage because he doesn't like how visible and involved she is and how much trouble she stirs. She is actively working in her community and her husband frequently gets upset because she is more focused on doing that instead of making food and tending to the house. He leaves and storms off a couple times. As the story goes on he comes to terms with her involvement and works to contribute to the household and support her.

Representation of women
As a role model, Li Shuangshuang stands out from some of the other female characters. She sometimes conflicts with an older woman in the community. They disagree on work and Li Shuangsuang is scolded for creating a scene and being too outspoken. This troublemaker persona manifests in the defense of ideas such as hard work and contributing to the community; this positive representation is meant to encourage women viewing this piece to be outspoken about those same values. The older woman that she quarrels with is the mother of a young girl that allies with Li Shuangshaung. The older woman serves as a foil for the main character in terms of this theme. The main character represents modern, socialist ideals that are promoted whereas the older woman is representative of more traditional ideas and practices.

There are also some traditional ideas about women and duty to household that clash with some of the more contemporary and encouraged understandings of women and their roles. This theme is symbolized through Li ShuangShuang and her husband. Referring to her as "the one who cooks my meals", her husband starts off the movie with some very additional understandings of women. Li Shuangshuang represents modern women within contemporary China. This theme is dynamic as very substantial and visual change occurs in terms of his perspective on women's roles. In some of the final scenes he does a few domestic duties such as making dinner for his family.

Beauty and physical characteristics of the women in the movie are rarely, if ever, addressed within this film. There is more of an emphasis on their role within their community and society. The women wear very plain clothes with minimal embellishment in terms of hair, makeup, or accessories.

Context
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