Zhang Yimou decided to bring the story to the big screen after being moved by the novel. This film is based on the novel Hawthorn Tree Forever which was written by renowned author Aimi and it was inspired by the real-life story of her friend, Jing.

Jiang Ruijia as Wei Hong, Jing Qiu's friend.

The film closed with Jing Qiu tearfully calling to the unconscious Lao San, repeatedly saying 'I am Jing Qiu, I am Jing Qiu.' Cast Jing Qiu, without knowing about Lao San's deadly disease, was only reunited with him when he was dying in hospital. However, Lao San later developed leukemia and forced himself to leave Jing Qiu. Jing Qiu was torn between her feelings for Lao San and her filial duty to her family.

Lao San also promised to wait for her until she grew up. ĭespite the fact that this could endanger the future of Jing Qiu and her family, Jing Qiu and Lao San fell in love and their relationship continues the following year. Following the political persecution of her father, Jing Qiu lived with her mother and little siblings, working towards becoming a teacher to support her family. Jing Qiu's father was also a political prisoner somewhere in China and her mother, branded as a ' capitalist', was reduced to menial work to support their family. Lao San's father held a high position in the military, but his mother committed suicide four years ago after being branded as a 'rightist'. Jing Qiu is lodged with the family of village head, where she meets geology student Sun Jianxin (nicknamed Lao San), who also takes his meals at Zhang's home, and she's drawn to his responsible and honorable character.

She arrives with a group in Xiping village, in the Yangtze River's Three Gorges region, where they are shown a hawthorn tree called the Tree of Heroes which was reputedly nourished by the blood of Chinese martyrs executed by the Japanese during World War II. Jing Qiu is one of the 'educated youth' sent to be 're-educated' through work in the countryside under a directive from Chairman Mao Zedong.

Set during the end of China's Cultural Revolution in a small village in Yichang City, Hubei Province, China, this film is about a pure love that develops between a beautiful high school student, Zhang Jing Qiu, and a handsome young prospector named Lao San (which means the third child in a family). The film was released in Mainland China (September 2010), Hong Kong (November 2010) and Singapore (February 2011). It was adapted from the popular 2007 novel Hawthorn Tree Forever by Ai Mi, which was based on a true story set during the Cultural Revolution. Under the Hawthorn Tree ( simplified Chinese: 山楂树之恋 traditional Chinese: 山楂樹之戀 pinyin: Shānzhāshù Zhī Liàn) is 2010 Chinese film directed by Zhang Yimou.

Under the hawthorn tree trilogy