In Hong Kong, Hou Yao directed numerous Cantonese-language films in the 1930's. Based on his own novel – originally serialized on a local newspaper – this war drama chronicles a love story in the midst of the Japanese invasion of northeastern China. Written before the Pacific War broke out, the story correctly theorized that Japan would extend the war to the United States, as well as China's role in defeating Fascism. However, Hou was not able to carry the novel's intricate politics or war sequences to the film adaptation, instead focusing on building dramatic tension through his characters, from Luo Pinchao's patriotic hero to Lee Yi-nin's wartime spy. Hou also co-stars in the film as a man who can readily handle both a pen and a gun – one representing Hou’s past and the other representing his ideal. The original epic story has been condensed to be set solely in northeastern China, with Hou’s crew effectively recreating the picturesque view of the mountains in northeastern China, making this a more visually striking film than a usual military propaganda film. The Hong Kong Film Archive newly acquired a nitrate copy of the film from the US and scanned the film digitally for this screening.

8/2

(Sat)

2:00pm

Cinema, Hong Kong Film Archive

21/2

(Fri)

7:30pm

Cinema, Hong Kong Film Archive