Every week, Ultimate Movie Year looks back into the past to highlight the best film that came out that weekend.

"Our Land"
United States Release Aug. 27, 2004
Directed by Zang Yimou

The culture of foreign countries may seem unknowable to many Americans, but often the best first steps we can take to understanding is through art. China's role in the world is often in the discourse without much context for those of us without foreign policy or economic degrees, but we can gather insight thru the lens of the Chinese film industry and one of its most successful exports, Zang Yimou's "Hero," released in the United States in 2004.