With both parents working far away, ten-year-old Chuang is being raised by extended family in his home village, where thousands of years of rural tradition collide with the socio-economic changes of China in the early 1990s.

What the Critics Are Saying

“Director Huo Meng’s Living the Land (Sheng Xi Zhi Di) immerses the viewer in a remote Chinese agricultural community with all the precision and beauty of an accomplished artist.“
– Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter

“Though it’s gently paced and narratively diffuse, “Living the Land” is never dull, thanks to a wealth of incident and the complexity of relationships in Huo’s extended family portrait.“
– Guy Lodge, Variety

“The film is an excellent follow-up for director Huo Meng, who shows immense promise as one of the leading voices in bringing Chinese culture and history to life on the big screen.“
– Jack Walters, Next Best Picture

Awards

1 win & 1 nomination

Berlin International Film Festival

Won, Silver Berlin Bear
Best Director
Meng Huo

Nominated, Golden Berlin Bear
Best Film
Meng Huo