Selection from First Films

Ghost of the Mirror 

Dir: Sung Chuen-sau
Scr: Chang Yung-hsiang
Prod: Wong Cheuk-hon
Prod Co: First Organisation
Cast: Brigitte Lin, Shih Chun, Ku Wen-chung, Tou Chung-hua, Chiang Wei-min, Pai Lin
1974 | Colour | Digital File | Mandarin | Chi & Eng Subtitles | 93min

Adapted from a Tang Dynasty fantasy tale, ‘literary director’ Sung Chuen-sau used the story of a scholar meeting a female ghost at night, but emphasised neither the killing nor horror but the literary and romantic elements. Scholar Chan (Shih Chun) stays in a remote mansion outside the city. People often fall into the mansion’s well for no apparent reason. Chan looks into it. Later, he sees the girl from the well, Susu (Brigitte Lin), waving to him. She begins to wait on him nightly. Susu was from a wealthy family, but was running away from bandits during wartime, and committed suicide by jumping into the well rather than be caught. After her death, her spirit was controlled by Du Long (Pai Lin). Du Long has forced her many times to harm Chan, but she never has the heart to carry it through. Chan’s pity for her soon becomes love. He goes into the well to retrieve an old bronze mirror, and eventually succeeds in freeing Susu. In the end, to rescue Chan, Susu fights with Du Long and they destroy each other. In 1968, Wong set up First Film Organisation Limited and moved to Taiwan to make Mandarin films. First Film became a profoundly influential film company in Taiwan. It was also the first time since director Sung discovered Brigitte Lin in Outside the Window in 1973, the two of them worked together again. Brigitte Lin’s refreshing beauty and classical features was perfect for the role.

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