Ju Dou

Ju Dou is a 1990 Chinese film directed by Zhang Yimou and Yang Fengliang. Set in an early-20th-century dye mill, it follows a beautiful indentured bride caught in a dangerous relationship with her husband’s adoptive nephew while living under the control of her sadistic, impotent patriarchal husband. The film combines lush, highly stylized imagery with elements of film noir, horror, fairy tale, and tragic melodrama, while examining cycles of intergenerational violence.

The film was the first Chinese movie nominated for an Academy Award and helped bring international attention to Chinese cinema. It also contributed to the rise of star Li Gong. The screening is presented on film in Mandarin with English subtitles.

When: November 7, 2026

Showtime: 2:00 pm

Tickets: Free with Harvard ID

Venue: Harvard Film Archive

Format: 35mm color film

Run time: 95 minutes

Language: Mandarin with English subtitles

Directed by: Zhang Yimou and Yang Fengliang

Cast: Li Gong, Li Wei, and Li Baotian

Print source: Harvard Film Archive

Preceded by: A, directed by Jan Lenica. This 1965 West German/French short is presented on 35mm in black and white and runs 10 minutes.

Series: Nostalgia, A Harvard Undergraduate Cinematheque Program, running September 19–December 12, 2026.