To Live - Characters & Cast

Initially, Fugui is motivated by his own pleasure and addictions. After losing everything, his primary motivation becomes the survival and well-being of his family. He adapts to each new political reality, not out of ideological conviction, but out of a pragmatic need to keep his loved ones safe and to simply keep on living.

Fugui begins as a reckless and irresponsible gambling addict who causes his family's ruin. His journey through war, poverty, and political turmoil transforms him. He learns humility, responsibility, and the importance of his family. While he never becomes a traditional hero, his resilience and his simple desire to protect his family and live a peaceful life demonstrate a profound character arc. He evolves from a symbol of decadent capitalism to a symbol of the enduring Chinese everyman.

Jiazhen's motivation is constant: to keep her family together and to live a peaceful life. She endures Fugui's initial irresponsibility and the subsequent decades of hardship out of a deep love for her family and a powerful sense of duty.

Jiazhen starts as the long-suffering wife of a gambler. Throughout the film, she is the emotional and moral core of the family. Her unwavering devotion and strength in the face of unimaginable loss are central to the family's survival. Her character does not undergo a dramatic transformation but rather reveals deeper and deeper reserves of strength and resilience as tragedies mount. Her simple wish for a "quiet life together" encapsulates the film's central theme.

As a child, Youqing is motivated by love for his family, a desire to help (seen in his enthusiasm for the commune's activities), and a fierce protectiveness of his sister.

Youqing is the beloved son of Fugui and Jiazhen. He is a bright and energetic boy who represents the hope for a new generation. His arc is tragically cut short when he is accidentally killed by Chunsheng, a direct result of the exhaustion and fervor of the Great Leap Forward. His death is a pivotal moment in the film, representing the senseless loss of life caused by political extremism.

Fengxia is motivated by a desire for love and connection, which she finds with her family and later with her husband. She embodies quiet strength and the ability to find happiness in simple things despite her difficult circumstances.

Fengxia is the quiet and gentle daughter who becomes deaf and mute after a fever in her childhood. Despite her disabilities, she is a kind and loving presence in the family. She finds happiness in her marriage to Wan Erxi, but her life also ends in tragedy. Her death during childbirth, due to the lack of experienced doctors during the Cultural Revolution, is another indictment of the era's political fanaticism.