Blood in Snow is a downbeat version of the backstage musical, a film of small-time performers and their gloomy lives, animated by a troubling love rectangle. Li Han-hsiang, in his official directorial debut, puts his mastery of the filmmaking craft on full display. He sets the story against the backdrop of authentic street culture, successfully capturing the nuances of folk life in northern China. The film, loosely based on a 1940s Shi Tuo play in turn loosely based on Russian writer Leonid Andreyev’s work He Who Gets Slapped, is also marked by a striking portrayal of two songstresses, their complicated and touching relationship melting from ugly jealousy to self-sacrificing kindness. Li Lihua is superb as a folk-opera singer with a fiery personality and Grace Chang is effervescent as an innocent up-and-comer.

Screening courtesy of Chinese Taipei Film Archive

4/8

(Sat)

7:00pm *

Cinema, Hong Kong Film Archive

12/8

(Sun)

2:00pm #

Broadway Cinematheque

* Invited guest for post-screening talk: Grace Chang
# Due to schedule changes, Ms. Grace Mak is unable to attend the post-screening talk. Mr. Jack Ng will take her place. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.