The Herdsman
牧马人
Synopsis
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.
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Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Xie Jin
- Screenplay & Story
- Zhang Xianliang
- Original Title
- 牧马人
- Country of Origin
- China
- Spoken Languages
- Mandarin
- Runtime
- 1h 43m
- Production Studios
- Shanghai Film Studio
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Xie Jin
Zhang Xianliang
Department Leadership Roster
Xie Jin
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Herdsman.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Herdsman
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Herdsman about?
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.
Who directed The Herdsman?
The Herdsman was directed by Xie Jin.
Who stars in The Herdsman?
The principal cast of The Herdsman includes Xie Jin, Zhu Shimao, Cong Shan, Liu Qiong, Niu Ben.
When was The Herdsman released and how long is it?
The Herdsman was released in 1982 with a total runtime of 1h 43m.
Is The Herdsman based on a book or true story?
The Herdsman is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Zhang Xianliang".