Wu Yonggang
Directing
Biography
Wu Yonggang was born in Shanghai in 1907, but was considered a native of his ancestral home Wu County, Jiangsu in Chinese convention. Wu Yonggang was one of the major leftist film directors of pre-Communist China. For the early part of his career, Wu was a set designer with Dazhonghua Baihe, before transferring to the Shaw Brothers' Tianyi Film Company. He was eventually noticed by Shi Dongshan at the newly formed Lianhua Film Company. His first film from the director's chair, 1934's The Goddess (under contract with Lianhua), earned both him and the film's star, Ruan Lingyu, rave reviews. A prolific director, Wu continued to make films well into the 1970s until his retirement shortly before his death including Evening Rain (co-directed with Wu Yigong) which won Best Picture at the first annual Golden Rooster Awards. Acclaimed director Chen Kaige referred to Wu Yonggang as one of his most admired directors, and named The Goddess as his favorite film of the 1930s.
Known For
A young prostitute, who is trying to give her infant son a good start in life, must contend with a coercive pimp and the prejudices of others.
The Goddess
At the tail end of the Cultural Revolution, Qiu Shi, a poet who has been in prison for six years, is transferred elsewhere by boat under the guard of two officers. During transit, he meets a series of passengers, who have also faced hardships in recent times.
Evening Rain
Returning home from a long voyage overseas, a man finds his wife and child living with another man. Fuelled by anger, he murders the other man and is forced to flee justice, until he faces death on a deserted island.
Waves Washing the Sand
In 1947, the Northeastern People's Liberation Army won a major victory in fierce fighting. In need of work, Molong Wang and his wife Juan Zhang were sent to work in Taohuachuan, a remote and difficult new area. As soon as he arrived in the district, Molong Wang and district official Chenzhong Liang went to the village and saw the fields dry up. The dam needed to be urgently repaired. The daughter of the village kulak Xumei Sun and the Kuomintang agent Jiantou Li conspired to provoke a series of problems to undermine the unity of the two villages in order to crack down on the new head of the district, Molong Wang...
A Remote Village
Hasan and Kamila, natives of Xinjiang, one of China's provinces, have loved each other for a long time. But many obstacles stand in the way of their happiness. The fact is that the son of a local wealthy man has decided to take Kamila as his wife against her will. It is difficult to fight such an all-powerful rival! And the heroes have to leave their native places and hide from their pursuers for a long time. Having joined the ranks of the People's Liberation Army, Hasan fights for lasting happiness not only for himself, but for his entire people.
Hasen and Jiamila
No description available.
Home
Based on the life of Yue Fei, a Chinese military general who lived during the Southern Song dynasty and considered a national hero of China.
Yue Fei, A National Hero
No description available.
Soaring Aspirations
No description available.
The Jade Hairpin
No description available.
Lin Chong, the Outlaw
The story about an old man and a peony fairy.
The Old Man and the Fairy
Silent film, with musical accompaniment. Originally released as a silent motion picture in 1935. Directed by Wu Yonggang,
Little Angel
Live action adaptation of Snow White fairy tale.
Chinese Princess Snow White
This sound film remake of The Goddess (1934) was headlined by Hu Die, who found stardom at the same time as Ruan Lingyu. Henry Lai Hang and Zhang Zhizhi reprised their roles from the earlier film. The first half of the story follows The Goddness but the second half references Bu Wanchang’s Love and Duty (1931) and King Vidor’s American film Stella Dallas (1937) with additional plots of the heroine’s post-prison story. After years of separation, she hesitates whether to reunite with her son. This new version poses a bigger challenge to a mother’s love and pushes towards the completion of her fate. The characters use dialogue to express their pain and connection, which strengthens the dramatic dilemma and makes the film more straightforward than its predecessor. Hu Die possesses a sort of allure that shows the sadness, shame, and will of a common woman from middle age to old age.
Rouge Tears
No description available.
Dong Biwu: A Veteran Revolutionary
No description available.
Melancholy Hatred
The story of the legendary folk female singer of Zhuang minority in Guangxi Autonomous Region.