Her Stories in the City

The Tender Age

Dir/Scr: Tso Kea
Orig Story: Cheng Wai
Prod Co: MP & GI
Cast: Tsi Lo Lin, Mui Yee, Ng Cho-fan, Cheung Ying, Lai Cheuk-cheuk
1957 | B&W | Digital File | Cantonese | 116min

Seung-ying (Tsi Lo Lin), a young girl from a poor family, moves into her wealthy classmate’s (Mui Yee) mansion and is instantly captivated by the extravagant parties she is warned to avoid. What she doesn’t realise is that her classmate’s mother, Mrs Fan (Lai Cheuk-cheuk), is grooming her daughters—and now also Seung-ying—to become socialites for her own financial gain. Drawn into this world by Mrs Fan’s manipulations and the charm of a handsome playboy (Cheung Ying), Seung-ying falls victim to deceit. Only after a traumatic incident does she uncover Mrs Fan’s true intentions. Fortunately, a principled architect (Ng Cho-fan) supports her to leave this corrupt and dangerous lifestyle.

Adapted from Cheng Wai’s wildly popular pulp novel, which was a huge success in Hong Kong and southeast Asia, the story forms an interesting parallel to Eileen Chang’s short story Aloeswood Incense, later adapted into the film Love After Love (2021) by renowned director Ann Hui. In adapting Cheng’s story for the screen, director and screenwriter Tso Kea masterfully critiques the vanity and moral decay of the upper class while portraying the dangers of a young woman’s pursuit of material glamour. Produced during the golden era of MP & GI, this film is one of their finest Cantonese productions and remains a timeless gem.

Courtesy of Cathay-Keris Films Pte Ltd

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