Rose Cliff

Director: Cheng Bugao
Scriptwriter: Chu Hak
Cast: Li Tziang, Chang Tseng, Li Ciyu, Jiang Ming, Tong Yi
Production: The Great Wall Movie Enterprises Ltd
1956 | B&W | Mandarin | 87min

Fishery has long been a way of life in coastal areas of China, and there were still a good number of fishing villages in Hong Kong in the 1950s. Rose Cliff, a touching story shot on location, is about Rose, a fisherman's daughter who grew up together with Ali (Chang Tseng) in the same village. They fall in love but their happiness is threatened by the powerful bully Lao Liu (Jiang Ming), who tries to force Rose into marriage...

The film stays true to the leftist, progressive values of Great Wall, Feng Huang, and Sun Luen, highlighting class inequality by putting in stark contrast the exploitational practices and feudal mindsets of wealthy merchants against the simple, hard-working lifestyle of humble fishers. Depicting the bravery of young people striving for marriage freedom and the tragic failure of ordinary folks to escape their lot, a powerful indictment of outdated societal customs is offered. Rose Cliff also takes care to portray different aspects of fishing life and culture, as its crew spent over thirty days on location in Ko Lau Wan, Sai Kung, capturing the everyday details of the fisher characters against beautiful backdrops of the natural environment. The song-and-dance numbers performed under moonlight feature star-studded cameos by Great Wall and Feng Huang actors such as Ping Fan, Shek Hwei, Chen Sisi, and Betty Loh Ti.

The subject matter of this film helps deepen audiences’ understanding of history and is appropriate for secondary students.

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