This is the inaugural film of Rose Motion Picture Company founded by Chor Yuen and his wife-to-be as well as lead lady Nam Hung. Despite a melodramatic plot involving such cliché as the poor husband being forced to sell his blood to earn the money to pay the hospital for the birth of his son, which is often found in the films in 1950s, Rose in Tears is a highly personal film for the young filmmaker. Listen to what Chor says in a statement: “The story evolves around two young painters and two young women, depicting their encounters, friendship and sacrificial love. At once pure and weak, they have a heart of gold and their noble character deserves our praise.” The film adopts a modern style and, one has to admit, an overtly romantic treatment which is echoed by Chan King-sam’s sumptuous design for the extravagant apartment and the (almost equally) spacious wooden hut for the two male leads, one rich and the other poor. Undoubtedly excessive, but not without interest, the film is also undeniably honest and urgent in its determination to break away from traditions and old times

19/8

(Sun)

7:00pm

Cinema, Hong Kong Film Archive

30/9

(Sun)

2:00pm

Cinema, Hong Kong Film Archive