Garden of Repose

Garden of Repose 1964

1

Yang Mengchi is a spoiled, rich do-nothing whose habit of smoking opium has cost him his entire fortune and the family mansion, the Garden of Repose, now due to be sold to Yao Guodong. Fearing that Yao's spoiled and unruly son Siaofu will follow in Yang's footsteps, Yao's stepwife Wan Zhaohua tries to instil discipline in the child but her efforts are undermined by the child's indulging and protective father and grandmother. Unable to reform himself despite his own son's chastisement, Yang leaves home to lead a reclusive life in a destitute temple, only helped out by his filial daughter Han'er. The poverty-stricken Yang is drafted into the army and tragedy ensues.

1964

The Golden Eagle

The Golden Eagle 1964

1

'Golden Eagle' is crowned wrestling champion at the Aobao Meeting, but subsequent conflicts break out between Glden Eagle and the Lord of Ba-yin. Expelled from the tribe, he meets and falls in love with San-Tan. But their affair arouses the jealousy of her suitor Chaganhu.

1964

Ah Ying

Ah Ying 1983

6.00

Chronicles the growth of a young woman as she dabbles in Hong Kong’s independent film scene. Based in part on Hui’s real-life experiences.

1983

The Living Corpse

The Living Corpse 1958

1

Famed director Zhu Shilin tries his hand at a horror film! The beginning of The Living Corpse immediately sets the tone with a folk duet clearly inspired by the popular 1956 musical Songs of the Peach Blossom River. The duet, in addition to Zhu's frequent use of long, empty shots and crisp editing, gives this horror film a traditional poetic charm and a strong folk flavor. Mise-en-scene and sound effects create a terrifying atmosphere, and successfully communicate the ghostliness of a world without ghosts.

1958

The Painted Skin

The Painted Skin 1966

7.00

A scholar falls for a beautiful maiden whom he invites to stay with him, but she is not what she seems to be...

1966

Father and Son

Father and Son 1981

5.60

A young man dreamed of a career in comics and movies. But his father would rather gave up all he had in order to let him receive formal education.

1981

Three Seventeens

Three Seventeens 1972

1

Three enthusiastic graduates - Chu Lan - lan, Cheng Chia-I Lin Ta - hua - joined Chun Li Primary School as teachers. The school was sponsored by the working and fishing community on an islet under the leadership of veteran worker Uncle Chen to keep their offspring away from the bad influences of the society.

1972

The Heroic Defenders

The Heroic Defenders 1978

1

A young girl returns home to find her mother killed and her village slaughtered.

1978

Chu Yuan

Chu Yuan 1975

7.00

Chu Yuan was a patriotic poet and statesman in ancient China, born over 2000 years ago in the state of Ch'u of the "Warring States" Period, a period of transition from Slavery to Feudalism System. Ch'in, Ch'u, Chao, Wei, Yen, Han and Chi were the Seven States occupying various parts of China at incessant war of annexation with one another. Of the Seven States Ch'in grew most powerful. Vis-a-vis Ch'in's military pressure and Ch'u's political corruption, Chu Yuan advocated alliance with Chi to resist Ch'in abroad, and political reforms at home so as to unify whole China. Chu Yuan's political viewpoint met with sabotage by slave-owning aristocrat bloc, was unable to be carried out in Ch'u. Being so indignant he finally took his own life by jumping into the river. His poems "Li Sao" "Tien Wen" etc. in the development history of Chinese literature, shone with everlasting brilliance.

1975

The Fair Ladies

The Fair Ladies 1967

1

Love stories of three different female characters.

1967

Tonight and Every Night

Tonight and Every Night 1958

1

Orphan He Yongnian was brought up by Zheng Mu, the owner of a small shop, and he was childhood sweetheart with Zheng's daughter Jingqin. Yongnian and Jingqin's love roots have been planted early, Jingqin helps everywhere, and Yongnian is very grateful. After Yongnian graduated, he was appreciated by the boss of the trading company, Leung. Jingqin's mother and daughter supported him. Boss Leung's daughter Dai Ni is attracted by Yong Nian and starts pursuing him. Yongnian's heart is attached to Jingqin, but he is afraid of offending Dai Ni, so he reluctantly entertains. Seduced by Dai Ni, Yongnian gradually yearns for a higher life, ignoring Zheng's mother and daughter...

1958

Operation Child Hunt

Operation Child Hunt 1967

1

A hidden gem produced at the height of the Hong Kong left-wing cinema. The Japanese army wants to force resistance leader Cheung (Bow Fong) to appear by capturing his family. Cheung's wife dies and, despite the protection by the nurse Yeung (Chu Hung) and other villagers, Cheung's daughter is captured. In the end Cheung's subordinate Lee Fu (Jiang Han) regroups with the resistance and saves the day, defeating the enemy and rescuing everyone. This film clearly references wartime productions in the mainland of China, with elements such as the Japanese taking hostages, resistance guerilla fighters, and the contrast between ‘heroes' and ‘villains' made obvious through camerawork and make-up designs. Street scenes shot in Macau merge seamlessly with studio scenes to recreate northern Chinese towns. War epics were not a strong suit of Hong Kong cinema. This film takes inspirations from Euro-American spy films and pays attention to character development and the mise-en-scène.

1967