• Frankly speaking, the film distorts the image of a strong female warrior into that of a lovesick wife. The screenwriters’ unimaginative and uninspired minds fail to understand the depths of this remarkable and noble spirit.
• Essentially, this film changes a story about a Party member serving the people through her unwavering faith into a conventional Western narrative where a traumatized individual saves herself.
• The film’s greatest flaw lies in the creators’ disbelief that idealists like Zhang Guimei exist. They don’t believe that her commitment as a Communist Party member serves as the primary driving force behind her accomplishments. They’d rather believe that it’s her undying love for her husband that gives her the most strength.
Source: Zhihu
China Movie Channel (under State broadcaster CCTV): Those who watched the film would clearly recognize that it places little emphasis on male characters, instead devoting significant efforts to diverse and vibrant portrayals of female teachers and students. This approach by no means diminishes, isolates or belittles women. This film has unfortunately been tarnished by malicious selective comments that deconstruct and stain a story that shines with humanity.
Source: China Movie Channel official Weibo account
Zhang Yiwu, professor of Chinese language and literature at Peking University: Biopics should strive to authentically portray figures, as Zhang is emblematic for the nation and her experiences are already deeply moving. While artistic embellishments are permissible, they should remain true to the core essence of the character. However, irrational and excessive criticisms against the movie are not acceptable.
Source: Global Times
Yin Hong, vice chairman of the China Film Association: While not every viewer may accept this adaptation, we still should defend the film creators’ freedom of expression. The film adopts a poetic approach to Zhang’s story, partially because its directors – Zheng Dasheng and Yang Jin – are skilled arthouse filmmakers. This film explores an innovative combination of documentary and poetic expression.
Source: a seminar held by the China Film Association in Beijing, November 28, 2023
The biopic Beyond the Clouds, based on the inspiring story of a rural educator, has generated significant controversy online due to its portrayal of its heroine and other female characters.
Zhang Guimei, a 66-yearold rural school principal, has touched the hearts of millions with her remarkable life story. After her husband’s passing in 1996, Zhang moved to the small town of Huaping in the remote mountain area in Lijiang, Yunnan Province. Since then, she has dedicated herself to teaching underprivileged children. In 2008, she founded the Huaping High School for Girls, China’s first tuition-free school of its kind. Over the past 15 years, the school has enabled about 2,000 girls from impoverished families to pursue higher education.
However, Beyond the Clouds has faced significant backlash online since its November 24 release. Many criticized the film for its inaccurate portrayal of Zhang and her female students.
Two particularly contentions points involve the gender swap of an alcoholic and abusive father in the story to a mother, and shifting from Zhang’s unwavering commitment to Party ideals to a focus on her love for her husband as the main source of her inner strength.
The film’s screenwriter, Yuan Yuan, dismissed the accusations. She defended her decision to depict the alcoholic parent as a mother, arguing that it showcased “women helping women.” This response further fueled debate. In contrast to the heated comments from netizens, media has generally provided more measured feedback on the film. Many experts have praised the film’s quality and called for a more rational approach to critiques from the public.
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