Under the Hawthorn Tree is adapted from the love story of the same name which has been a hit on the internet since 2007. The film follows Jingqiu, a girl whose family has been under close scrutiny since her father was labeled a rightist, and Laosan, a boy with a promising future from a well-to-do family. As a director born in the 1950s, Zhang Yimou lived through the Cultural Revolution and when he read the novel, he found no problem in identifying with the writer.
Facing the pros and cons from moviegoers, Zhang Yimou's attitude was relaxed. He didn't have any expectations about what the film would make in ticket sales. As he said, different people have a different understanding of pure love, and what he can do is to give his own interpretation by the film.