Chief Dir: Zhu Shilin
Dirs: Jiang Ming, Wen Yimin
Scr: Shen Ji
Prod Co: Feng Huang
Co-starring: Shi Lei, Bao Fong, Chen Qi, Kung Chiu-hsia, Josephine Siao Fong-fong
1955 / B&W / DCP / Mandarin / 103min

 

When the studio Feng Huang was first established after the war, founder Zhu Shilin and his filmmaking team were tasked to toe the fine line between commercialism and ideology.  Year In, Year Out , made two years into the company's tenure, finds Zhu back to his former self. A family melodrama, the story of a mother and the families of her two sons offers a poignant contemplation on modern life. The skillfully structured script by Shen Ji is directed with delicate touches by Zhu, earning the film an award from China's Ministry of Culture. Wei Wei, playing one of the daughters-in-law, turns in a bravura performance, embodying every bit the pungent, rapacious woman that's her character.

Screening courtesy of China Film Archive