Under The Hawthorn Tree – Not Only a Romance, But Also a Political Satire

Under The Hawthorn Tree is on the surface a simple love story, but indeed it is also a
subtle political satire on the evils of the Communist Party.

(Spoiler Warning)

1. At the beginning of the movie, the girl believes the red flowers represent
the Communist heroes and talks about the “rumor” in the textbook. The ending
shows us that it is only propaganda used to promote the heroes and the white
flowers of the same tree remind the girl of her boyfriend, instead of the
heroes. What’s more, the tree which used to symbolize the heroes is now
submerged by the water because of a new project. It implies that changes are
inevitable as time goes by.

2. Why does the nurse say to the girl that the boy does not have an incurable
disease? The Communist Party is probably trying to cover up the truth.

3. The girl is always expected to take the volleyball back during the game,
which shows communism is not void of hierarchy.

4. The main characters' parents are also victims under Communist rule.

5. The Communist Party song gives me goose pimples. The Communist Party is even
closer to you than your parents are?

6. People under Communist rule are deprived of freedom. The girl even dares not
call the boy intimately, which leads to the regret.

On the whole, it is a poetic and beautifully shot love story with a charismatic
cast with different nuances of facial expression. Despite the awkward silences showing
the time shifts with written words, I am deeply impressed by the creative mixture
of romance and political satire. 4 / 5

Merry-Go-Round 4 / 5 (One of the best three Hong Kong movies this year)
Undertow (Contracorriente) 4 / 5
Fair Game 4 / 5
The Cove 4 / 5
Unstoppable 3.5 / 5
The American 3.5 / 5