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The Herdsman

1982 · 103 min

A sweeping, heartfelt historical drama that moves between hardship and tenderness, leaving a lingering ache of endurance and quiet reconciliation.

Directed by
Xie Jin
Genres
Drama, Romance
Overview
In 1980, Xu Jingshan, a wealthy Chinese-American businessman returns to China to find his son, Xu Lingjun, whom he had abandoned over 30 years earlier. Labeled a rightist because of his capitalist father, Lingjun has been forced to live as a humble herdsman on the grasslands. His bitter life has been transformed by a happy marriage to the wise and beautiful Xiuzhi, and more recently by his rehabilitation by the Party. When he goes to Beijing for their reunion, he discovers his father wants him to work for his chemical company in San Francisco. Lingjun tells the story of his life to his father, as he ponders his future.
How it feels
Melancholic, earnest, warm and bleak. Measured and needs your attention.
About
Family, isolation, survival, identity
Content
Mild violence. No gore, sexual content or swearing.
Note
Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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In the USNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
Directed by
Xie Jin
Genres
Drama, Romance
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How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Full breakdown
Tone
Pacing
measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Era
period
Audience
adult
Content intensity
  • Gore none
  • Language none
  • Violence mild
  • Sex none
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action1
Horror1
Humour2
Realism8
Romance5
Tension3
Darkness6
Complexity5
Emotional weight8

Cast

Where to watch in the US

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No streaming, rental or purchase options are known in the US.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details