Red Sorghum (1988)
Kernel Score: 79% · 239 ratings
Genres: Drama, Romance, History
Released: 1988-10-10
Runtime: 91 minutes
Overview
An old leper who owned a remote sorghum winery dies. Jiu'er, the wife bought by the leper, and her lover, identified only as "my Grandpa" by the narrator, take over the winery and set up an idealized quasi-matriarchal community headed by Jiu'er. When the Japanese invaders subject the area to their rule and cut down the sorghum to make way for a road, the community rises up and resists as the sorghum grows anew.
Red Sorghum parents' guide: ages 13+
Parents need to know that Red Sorghum is a historical drama depicting wartime atrocities during the Japanese occupation of China.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Depicts war crimes and violent resistance during the Japanese occupation of a rural Chinese village.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
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Director
Cast
- Gong Li as Jiu'er
- Jiang Wen as Yu
- Teng Rujun as Uncle Luohan
- Liu Ji as Jiu'er's Son
- Qian Ming as Jiu'er's Grandmother
- Ji Chunhua as Sanpao
- Zhai Chunhua as Hu Er
- Jia Zhaoji
- Zhang Yuxiang
- Zhou Guiyun
Red Sorghum FAQ
Is Red Sorghum good?
Red Sorghum has a 79% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 239 audience ratings.
Is Red Sorghum OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 13+. Parents need to know that Red Sorghum is a historical drama depicting wartime atrocities during the Japanese occupation of China.
What movies are like Red Sorghum?
If you liked Red Sorghum, try Tess, Empire of the Sun, Where the Crawdads Sing and The Last Emperor.