Yuan qu de cun zhuang

Following the terrible drought that hit the plateau of central China in 1995, the village of Jizipo finds its harvest reduced by half. Old Yuan Qi Zhen’s son is determined to tackle the water supply problem once and for all. He decides to do away with the well and build a hydro-electric pump, which will lead the villagers to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of the decision. The film follows the experiences of three families to illustrate the country people’s attitudes towards progress and the reticence to change.