Truth, Justice, and the Shaanxian Way: Revisiting <i>The Story of Qiu Ju</i>

Qiu Ju da guansi is a Chinese film by renowned director Zhang Yimou. Known as The Story of Qiu Ju in the West, the main character is a woman in rural China who seeks a satisfactory resolution after her husband is physically assaulted by the local representative of a state agency. After its release in 1992, the film received significant attention from reviewers, and, over the years, commentators from various disciplines. This Article builds on that commentary, with a focus on the film's lessons about culture, dispute resolution, the legal process, and their intersection.

After a summary of the story's plot, the Article examines the relevant Chinese cultural norms that shape interpersonal interactions and affect notions of conflict and dispute settlement. With the culture component in place, the next section analyzes the variables toward a resolution of Qiu Ju's grievance. Precisely what does Qiu Ju want-justice, an apology, or something else? What do "justice" and "apology" mean, and do these concepts have the same meanings in China, the United States, and elsewhere?

Finally, I address the question of whether, under the circumstances and in the specific setting, Qiu Ju received the apology that she (and the audience) wanted.