Mutual Understanding

Dir: Chun Kim
Scr: Lee Lin (joint pseudonym of Lee Hang and Lo Duen)
Prod Co: Sun Luen
Cast: Hung Sin Nui, Cheung Ying, Wong Man-lei, Ma Siu-ying, Yip Ping
1954 | B&W | DCP | Cantonese | 130min

Conflicts between mother and daughter-in-law are common problems for Chinese families, essentially a clash between two generations of women. Mutual Understanding tells such a story, adding to the mix a discord between superstitious practices of old and the modern belief in science.
 
An educated city woman suffers from a rocky relationship with her traditionally minded mother-in-law. They fight over not only household matters but also the favours of one male after another, first the husband/son, then the son/grandson. Making matters worse are divisive fanning of the fire by a gossiping neighbour and the husband’s timid refusal to take a stand. The wife is forced to leave but after wise words of advice from an old classmate and recognising the importance of kinship bonds, the family is eventually reunited for a happy ending.
 
With a tightly structured script, the film delivers a well-paced story where characters’ conflicts keep escalating. Fiery performances by actresses Hung Sin Nui and Wong Man-lei bring out the generational tensions in vivid everyday details, complemented by Cheung Ying’s calibrated turn as the man caught in the middle. Director Chun Kim’s mise-en-scène, aided by cinematographer Law Kwan-hung’s effective camera movements, highlight the shifting relationship between the three main characters. Mutual Understanding is one of the finest family melodramas in 1950s Cantonese cinema, in both narrative and cinematic terms.
 
The film perceptively situates traditional ethical relations in the context of modern society, maintaining the anti-feudalist stance inherited from the May Fourth Movement and advocating for female independence while also reaffirming the family values integral to Chinese culture. Shifting the focus from unquestioning obedience to love and empathy, Mutual Understanding offers a moral and ethical compass updated for its times.

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