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Breaking with Old Ideas

Name: Breaking with Old Ideas
Director: Li Wenhua
Released: 1975
Duration: 122 min

Representation Score

5.8/10

Fair

1975

Director

Li Wenhua

Runtime

122 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Breaking with Old Ideas is a product of mid-1970s state-sponsored cinema, designed to promote revolutionary collectivism. It disrupts traditional patriarchal structures by focusing on a female protagonist who challenges conservative institutional elements. While the film lacks queer representation and ethnic variety, it finds depth through class-based identity. By highlighting the peasant student archetype, the film challenges the dominance of the educated elite. Ultimately, the film’s strength lies in its aggressive deconstruction of old social hierarchies, even as it operates within a strictly defined ideological framework.

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Category Breakdown

Does Breaking with Old Ideas have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include any characters or situations related to LGBTQ+ identities. Its focus is entirely on class struggle and political alliances.

How does Breaking with Old Ideas portray gender?

Good

Li Jinfeng, a female peasant student, is central to the film’s ideological transformation. She challenges traditional hierarchies by taking a leading role in the political struggle.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Breaking with Old Ideas?

Fair

The film features a largely homogeneous ethnic landscape. However, it uses class-based identity to highlight the struggles of the working class against the landed elite.

How does Breaking with Old Ideas represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The story explicitly criticizes traditional social institutions and the family unit. It emphasizes revolutionary collectivism and the dismantling of outdated power structures.

Does Breaking with Old Ideas include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters with visible or invisible disabilities mentioned in the narrative.

Present on Screen

Strong challenge to traditional gender hierarchies through the role of the female protagonist.
Effective use of class-based identity to represent underrepresented social groups.
Clear narrative commitment to dismantling traditionalist power structures.

Limited or Absent

Complete absence of LGBTQ+ representation or non-straight relationships.
Lack of ethnic or racial diversity within the depicted landscape.
No representation of characters with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

The film tells the story of the Communist Labour College that opened in the 1960s. Long Guozheng, an emissary from the Communist government and Li Jinfeng, a female peasant student, must fight against the school's more conservative elements. In the film's climax, Li is put on trial and is about to be expelled from the school when she is saved by a pronouncement from Chairman Mao himself.

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