Parents' Hearts (2K Digitised Version)

Dir/Scr: Chun Kim
Cast: Ma Si-tsang, Wong Man-lei, Lam Kar-sing, Yuen Siu-fai
1955 | B&W | DCP | Cantonese | 116min

As a young director who emerged after the war, Chun Kim carried on the realist traditions of Chinese cinema and excelled at portraying intergenerational relationships with great finesse. Parents’ Hearts can be considered the pinnacle of his family dramas. Originally a Cantonese opera comic, the witty Lei is reduced to performing on the streets after his troupe disbands. He works his fingers to the bone alongside his wife and falls ill from overexerting himself, all for the sake of putting their two sons through school. This story of a father’s hopes for his sons to succeed in life may seem simple, but it puts forward an ideal image of family harmony grounded in a father’s righteousness, a mother’s tenderness, an elder brother’s kindness, a younger brother’s respect, and filial piety. It also illustrates the spirit of mutual support among impoverished performers, highlighting the inherent nature of compassion and the virtues of generosity. The film goes beyond the domestic household to the societal level, addressing harsh realities such as the economic downturn and the replacement of traditional art forms by showy performances.

Renowned Cantonese opera actor Ma Si-tsang spent just over two years at Union Film. Despite this, the five productions in which he starred as either the protagonist or villain have left a lasting impression. He brought his character to life through showcasing his humorous signature vocal style onstage and the sardonic acknowledgement of life’s hardships offstage. His refined acting imparted layers and depth to the role, touching the hearts of audiences. The film-within-a-film portion of this motion picture features cameo appearances by well-known actors the likes of Law Kar-kuen (father of Law Ka-ying) and Chan Tit-ying.

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