Dir: Yeung Kung-leong
Scr: Lo Yu-kei
Prod Co: Lingnan
Cast: Chow Kwun-ling, Lau Hark-suen, Cheung Ying, Ha Chun Chau, Lam Mui-mui
1955 | B&W | DCP | Cantonese | 114min

"Bitter Kisses" is grass with pretty bloom but it is poisonous and fatal.' A famed opera performer (Lau Hak-suen) uses a botanic metaphor to teach his philosophy of life to a junior troupe member (Chow Kwun-ling), who later falls in desperate love with him without finding reciprocation. Adapted from a popular novel, Bitter Kisses is set in a Cantonese opera troupe, and features many operatic performances for Lau and Chow to shine in, most notably Lady Zhaojun Going Beyond the Great Wall. Early in his career, Lau was promoted by Ma Si-tsang as principal buffoon, and his deep understanding of Ma's craft is fully evident in his layered performance, as well as his fine ‘beggar vocal style' singing, in the film.