The Road Home

Zhang Yimou is strategic with his use of silence throughout the film. During the first twenty five to thirty minutes of the film, Zhao Di, on of the leading characters in the film,  speaks less than a paragraph. Yimou's use of silence in the film allows the audience to recognize the role of symbolism throughout the film. Zhao Di and Luo Changyu's love for each other is passionately represented in the film. Yimou uses color to represent Zhao and Luo's love for each other throughout out the film. Color has a strong visual impact because it is manipulated in a way that viewers do not expect. Traditionally, in Western films, directors use color to represent time. Black and white scenes illustrate events and memories in the past; while color represents emotions and events in the future. Yimou uses black and white coloring to represent time in the present; while color is used to represent time in the past.  Yimou's decision to film moments between Luo and Zhao in color represents the devotion of their love. To Zhao, and to the audience, her love for Luo is present and enduring. Her love is so unconditional that Luo's death does not stop her from feeling emotions and passion she has always had for Luo.