A film filled with 3 (or 4) dimensional human beings undergoing pressures from life, from politics, and from internal drives. Beautifully developed, showing transformation of all the major characters.
A small town or village is shown before the Cultural Revolution hits them. There is love, romance, and small business operations, well-portrayed.
Then new characters show up representing the national and provincial leadership. They too act out their own needs in this societal context.
Finally, after the "Cultural Revolution" has passed, the characters resume their lives, but much has changed--and some things never change.