Regret from the Spring Lantern and Feather Fan

Dir: Chu Kea
Orig Story: Tong Tik-sang
Prod Co: Yongde
Cast: Yam Kim-fai, Fong Yim-fun, Wong Hok-sing, Hui Ying-sau, Yam Bing-yee
1959 / B&W / D Beta / Cantonese / 107min

There are two screen versions made from Tong's original play but only Chu Kea's 1959 adaptation survived. Siu-fong (Fong Yim-fun), daughter of Governor Yeung, was pledged in marriage to rich heir Kau-wan (Yam Kim-fai) at birth, having exchanged a spring lantern and feathered fan as their betrothal gifts. Yet the course of true love never runs smoothly. Intercepted by the death of the father, the crafty scheming of the stepmother and the chaos of war, the lovers finally reunite but Siu-fong is denied her claim for the betrothal gifts as she is held ransom over a favour owed to a benefactor… Director Chu Kea did a solid job of bringing the singing prowess of Yam Kim-fai and Fong Yim-fun to the fore, the plethora of rising and descending tones mirroring the chain of obstacles, deceits and setbacks that get in the way of love.