Rose Cliff

Dir: Cheng Bugao
Scr: Chu Hak
Prod Co: Great Wall
Cast: Chang Tseng, Li Tziang, Tong Yi, Josephine Siao Fong-fong, Li Ciyu
1956 | B&W | Digital File | Mandarin | Chinese Subtitles | 89min

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striving for marriage freedom and the tragic failure of ordinary folks to escape their lot, a powerful indictment of outdated societal customs is offered.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.

Free admission by ticket. Tickets of the screening will be distributed at the information counter of the Archive starting from 30 January (Fri) on Monday and from Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00am to 8:00pm. Each person can receive up to two tickets on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last.

Limited walk-in seats will also be available on event day from 1:30pm onwards on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors are welcome to queue up at the 1/F Foyer of the Archive at 1:15pm. Each person can register for one ticket while stocks last.


The contents of the programme do not represent the views of the presenter. The presenter reserves the right to change the programme should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary.