Archive
NEW WOMEN – Er Nie
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Director Cai Chusheng along with much of the Shanghai movie industry, was rocked by the suicide of star actress and writer Ai Xia in 1934. Ai Xia took her own life after being relentlessly hounded, hunted, and scrutinized by a predatory tabloid press prying into and exposing her personal life. Cai Chusheng decided something had to be done and so committed for his next project to take on “fùnü wèntí” (The Woman Question) with a dramatic narrative, which exposed the pernicious perils of stardom, with an unflinching critique of traditional gender roles, and the commodification of independent women by the media. United Photoplay Service agreed to finance the project and Luo Mingyou would manage production, Cai would direct and Sun Shiyi would write the screenplay. For the cast, Ruan Lingyu would star as Wei Ming, joined by Wang Naidong as Dr. Wang and Zheng Junli as Yu Haichou. Read more…
THE BIG ROAD – Er Nie, Guang Ren
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Following the completion of the woman’s sports film Ti Yu Huang Hou in 1934, director Sun Yu decided that he wanted to contribute to the “National Defense Cinema” movement with a film, which showcased cinema stars actress Li Lili and actor Jin Yan. He conceived using the metaphor of ordinary citizens building a military highway to symbolize collective resistance against imperialist invaders. Challenges arose because the Nationalist Kuomintang government enforced strict censorship policies to avoid directly provoking Japan. As such Sun Yu cleverly substituted explicit references to Japan with generalized patriotic struggles of “weak nations” against an unnamed enemy. He secured funding from Lianhua Film Company, Lu Jie and Lo Ming Yau would oversee production, and Sun Yu would direct and write the screenplay. A stellar cast was assembled led by Jin Yan as Brother Jin, Li Lili as Jasmine, joined by Luo Peng as Little Luo, Zheng Junli as Zheng Jun, Chen Yen-Yen as Ding Xiang (Orchid) and Han Langen as Little Six. Read more…
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