The Shepherd is adapted from the novel Soul and Body by the famous writer Zhang Xianliang. It was shot by Shanghai Film Studio, directed by Xie Jin, starring Zhu Shimao and Cong Shan, and released on 1982. It tells the story of Xu, who was wrongly labeled as "Rightist", working in the northwest pasture and marrying a rural girl.
Xu, played by Zhu Shimao, was labeled as "Rightist" and sent to Chilechuan Ranch as a herdsman, but the local herders gave him care and care. During this period, he and Li Xiuzhi, a rural girl, became husband and wife in distress. His father, Xu Jing, returned to China to look for his father who had been missing for many years. He can't decide whether to go or stay.
Li Xiuzhi, played by Cong Shan, was originally a peasant girl who fled from Sichuan to Chilechuan. She is sensible and dare to take responsibility, which makes her husband feel the warmth of the family. When her husband asked her, "Aren't you afraid that I will go abroad and never come back?" Xiuzhi said, "I'm not afraid. You will come back. I can't bind you and have no ability, but you can't carry Qilian Mountain and prairie.
Shepherd is a thought-provoking and philosophical work. With a true and touching artistic image and vivid artistic conception, he wrote a true, connotative, cold and profound ode to the beauty of human nature and human feelings.
The film is not a sitcom, it is characterized by successfully portraying the inner world of the characters and vividly revealing the souls of the characters. When mobilizing all means to highlight this feature, the film is not only implicit, but also lyrical. At the same time, it combines sadness and joy and has the artistic effect of "tears in laughter".