Adapted from Qin Shouou’s (1908-1993) eponymous novel Begonia (1941), this version, as scripted by Cheng Kang, replaces Qin’s original Peking Opera setting with a Cantonese Opera stage, reinterpreting the famous actor Begonia’s life in a threeact structure. This change coordinates well with Ng Wui’s powerful mise-en-scéne. It  tells how the young opera singer Begonia (Cheung Wood-yau) rises to fame and falls in love with Luo Xiangqi (Pak Yin). To amass money for her elder brother’s (Keung Chungping) medical treatment, Luo marries warlord General Yuan (Fung Fung). Begonia later meets her by coincidence and rekindles their romance, which finally leads Begonia to lifelong regret. Rather than presenting a muchcriticised sentimental Mandarin Ducks and Butterflies story (i.e. classical-style love fiction), Cheng Kang illustrates the “anti-establishment” spirit popularised by Union Film Co. at the time through highlighting the privileged class’s oppression of the underdogs. Begonia in the film returns to the opera troupe and remains an insignificant supporting actor, instead of committing suicide as in Qin’s novel. The film emphasises that suffering in life is more unbearable than death, and its tragic ending reproaches the disgrace of the privileged class.

28/6

(Sat)

1:00pm

Cinema, Hong Kong Film Archive

Post-screening talk with Sean Yim and Kwok Chi-ki