Film still from Li An's movie" Eat Drink Man Woman" This is what I think best represents how food being so important in Chinese culture. In Li An’s film, the father who is a formal chef can prepare wonderful feast for his family especially his children, but what more important is the conversation on the table that means to the father.
In the movie “Red Sorghum” by YImo Zhang, there is one scene particularly plant in my head:
When the peasants are gathered to fight Japanese intruders, the female main character prepared a big feast with Red sorghum wine. The color was so strong. And knowing the tragedy waiting for them, the feast seems meaningless yet it also means inside their mind they are not prepared to come back.
So I guess I’m trying to say is that feast scene can mean so different from story to story. The meaning behind food is complex and enriched with culture elements.
