Sons of Good Earth

Dir/Scr: King Hu
Prod Co: Shaws Brothers
Co-starring: Peter Chen Ho, King Hu, Julia Hsia, Chen Yanyan, Kao Pao-shu
1965 / Colour / D Beta / Mandarin / Chi & Eng / subtitles / 114min

Lotus (Betty Loh Ti) seizes her chance to escape from a brothel during a raid launched by the newly appointed police commissioner (King Hu) to crack down on crimes. Yu Rui (Peter Chen Ho) comes to her aid during her flight and wins her hand in marriage. Yet their blissful life together is cut short when the Japanese troops strike. Lotus is separated from Rui and learns he has joined the guerrilla movement with his life in peril. Lotus must risk all to infiltrate the enemy's camp and save him… In King Hu's solo directorial and screenwriting debut, Betty Loh Ti delivered an emotionally gripping performance as a woman with unyielding courage and incredible determination. More tellingly, Lotus was an archetypal precursor to King Hu's later swordswomen and female knights-errant. A well-deserved winner of three accolades – best screenplay, best film editing and a special jury prize of national spirit – at the 4th Golden Horse Awards in 1966.

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