Summer Palace (頤和園) was an interesting film. I had seen banners of it around many Asian American blogs and sites during Q2 of 2008. I got Summer Palace via Netflix around that time too (April 2008). It also made a brief run in theaters in the states a year ago (Jan/Feb 2008). The movie is banned in China but has been released around the world since it hit the film festival circuit in 2006. It gets a lot of publicity due to the Tienanmen/Tiananmen Square incident (六四事件/六四天安门事件) and the hightened focus on sexuality being explored to find oneself.
The movie follows a northern country gal Yu Hong as she sets off for life in college and beyond. The story unfolds into a coming of age for Yu Hong as she transverses college life, young adulthood and finally settling down. During college, Yu Hong falls for a popular student, Zhou Wei and that bond is explored through out Yu Hong's "coming of age" storyline. With minor story development of Zhou's life away from Yu Hong. In the end both have to make decisions about where they want to head in life.
Yu Hong is played by the beautiful Hao Lei (郝蕾). I first noticed 郝蕾 (Hao Lei) in a martial arts drama in 2007 called Men & Legends (精武飛鴻) as Peter Ho's (何潤東) lady interest. However, that was 1920s China and this was 80s/90s China. Hao Lei is someone to watch out for. I don't see any movie news for her, but she's in a few china dramas the last couple of years. It's unfortunate, but women actresses in their 30s don't always last very long. I hope Hao Lei makes it a nice career before calling it quits. Its almost impossible in your 40s.
Be aware that the sexuality is explored to the fullest with both Yu Hong and Zhou Wei. Don't watch this with your little ones around.
I highly recommend this film because it's a slice of history that is in the past, but still less than 20 years removed from the present. Feels old but new at the same time. Like watching Wedding Singer ;-)
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