In the film, Under the Hawthorn Tree, the tale of Jingqiu and Laosan is the "cleanest love story in history". [Provided to China Daily]

A Chinese love story - no sex, little talk and a whole lot of heartache

《山楂树之恋》号称史上最干净的爱情故事，如果它让你忍不住落泪，不要去问为什么，因为一切尽在不言中。

The Chinese have a saying: 一切尽在不言中 (yíqiè jìn zài bù yán zhōng). The closest English translation is "silence is golden" but that doesn't really capture its implicit intimacy. Zhang Yimou's latest film, Under the Hawthorn Tree (《山楂树之恋》Shānzhāshù Zhī Liàn) tries its very best to do so.

In this film, a muted palette and sparse dialogue were used to pay homage to the love between "young intellectuals" (知青 zhīqīng) toward the end of "cultural revolution" (1966-76).

Jingqiu, a delicate dewdrop of a girl whose father is a "rightist", goes to be re-educated in a village homestay and falls in love at first sight with Laosan, a dashing member of a geology unit. But their love is forbidden yet because of Jingqiu's status: building a record

(档案 dàng'àn) beyond reproach and earning a full-time teaching job. Any misstep, even being seen with a boy, could jeopardize her future.

(Jingqiu's) mother: You promised me you'd behave well. The decision about your job as a teacher will be made soon. Many people are jealous. If there are problems at this critical moment, your career will be ruined, and your whole life too. It'll be on your record forever!

Ní dāyìng wǒ yào hǎohāor biǎoxiàn. Nǐ zài xuéxiào dǐngzhí de shìr kuài yào dìng le. Zhōuwéi hěnduō rén yǎnhóng ne. Yào guānjiàn shíkè chūle wèntí, biéshuō liúxiào, yóngyuǎn huì tái bù qǐ tóu lai. Dàng'àn huì gēn nǐ yíbèizi de.

你答应我要好好儿表现。你在学校顶职的事儿快要定了。周围很多人眼红呢。要关键时刻出了问题，别说留校，永远会抬不起头来。档案会跟你一辈子的。

And so, Laosan patiently waits … and waits … and waits. Little is said and done. The romance unfolds with a walk along a river, an interrupted bike ride and a stolen night together. The story lives up to its "clean" reputation. Much strife comes from her thinking Laosan has bailed after "having his way with her".

Jingqiu: Will I get pregnant too?

Nà wǒ huìbuhuì huáiyùn?

那我会不会怀孕？

Weihong (a girl friend of Jingqiu): Didn't you let him succeed? Did you let him succeed or not? Tell me what happened that night. In detail.

Nǐ búshì ràng tā déshǒu le ma? Nǐ dàodǐ yǒu méiyǒu ràng tā déshǒu? Nǐ gěi wǒ shuō diǎnr jùtí qíngkuàng. Xiángxì diǎnr shuō.

你不是让他得手了吗？你到底有没有让他得手？你给我说点儿具体情况。详细点儿说。

(Jingqiu whispers)

Weihong: That's it? Just holding hands? Did you get naked?

Jiù zhèxiē? Jiù shǒu lā shǒu? Méi tuō yīfu?

就这些？就手拉手？没脱衣服？

Jingqiu: No.

Méiyǒu.

没有。

This kind of sexual ignorance may seem unfathomable now, but elderly Chinese who lived through those days say, "That's just the way we were." After discovering the relationship, mother tests Jingqiu's virginity by running a finger down her nose.

Jingqiu: Mom, why were you touching my nose?

Mā, nín mō wǒ bízi gàn shénme?

妈，您摸我鼻子干什么？

Mother: Something I learned from your grandma, to check if you're still the same.

Wǒ gēn nǐ náinai xué de. Kànkan shìbushì yuánlái de nǐ.

我跟你奶奶学的。看看是不是原来的你。

Pervasive socio-political pressures shape the lovers' lives, but Zhang steers clear of stark pain. Instead, he focuses on the simplicity of love and the couple's placid happy moments.

Laosan: Let's wash your feet. Let me show you a magic trick. Close your eyes.

Lái, pàojiǎo ba. Wǒ gěi nǐ biàn ge móshù ba. Bì shàng yǎnjīng.

来，泡脚吧。我给你变个魔术吧。闭上眼睛。

(He pulls out a new basin painted with hawthorn berries from under the plain basin)

Jingqiu: How'd you do that?

Ai, nǐ zěnme biàn de?

哎，你怎么变的？

Laosan: I knew you'd like it.

Wǒ jiù zhīdào nǐ xǐhuan.

我就知道你喜欢。

Jingqiu: I'm so happy to know you.

Rènshi nǐ zhēn hǎo.

认识你真好。

As the characters cope with forces beyond their control, they repeat this mantra: "One day the policies may change."

Laosan: Maybe political policies will change.

Shuōbudìng nǎtiān zhèngcè jiù biàn le.

说不定哪天政策就变了。

Jingqiu: What if I still can't be with you when I'm 25?

Yàoshì dàole èrshíwǔ suì yě bùxíng ne?

要是到了二十五岁也不行呢？

Laosan: Then I'll wait for you my whole life.

Nà wǒ jiù děng nǐ yíbèizi.

那我就等你一辈子。

While Jingqiu and Laosan are busy contending with myriad manmade hurdles to their love, nature ultimately cuts their time short.

The movie may be not Zhang's best work, but it faithfully depicts a quintessentially Chinese romance.

Courtesy of The World of Chinese, www.theworldofchinese.com