A Smile of Woe

Dir: Ng Dan
Orig Story: Tong Tik-sang
Prod Co: The Tungman
Cast: Mak Bing-wing, Leung Sing-po, Fung Wong Nui, Poon Yat On, Lee Hong-kum
1962 / B&W / D Beta / Cantonese / 113min

Yuet-lau (Mak Bing-wing) is smitten by the lovely dimples and rosy smiles of Bing-ying (Fung Wong Nui), the maidservant of county magistrate Sau-lim, and instantly recognises her as his lover from teenage years. No sooner is Bing-ying taken as his concubine than Yuet-lau is murdered by his covetous uncle Do-mong. Bing-ying is wrongly convicted and gives birth to her son Siu-lau whilst in jail. Siu-lau (also played by Mak) grows up to become a high official and is determined to exonerate his mother from monstrosity. Justice is eventually done, enabling mother and son to reunite. Instead of being a detective story, this work is more of a portrait of a legendary heroine who embodies the traditional virtues of Chinese women.