The backdrop of The Story of Qiu Ju is Chinese rural poor and the story is of a strong-willed and simple-minded woman fighting with the law to get a man who harmed her husband to apologize, nothing more and nothing less (and it would be a spoiler to say which of the 2 she gets). Gong Li, who plays the title character in this The Story of Qiu Ju is at her best, and the direction is simple and raw. Oh, and the poverty and suffering displayed is unsettling.
This story is more powerful than even Yellow Earth, and with many more strong actors, while the winter weather looks even more harsh.