Dir: Ng Wui
Orig Story: Aleksandr Nikolayevich Ostrovsky
Script Revision: Cheng Kang
Prod Co: The Union
Cast: Ma Si-tsang, Cheung Wood-yau, Pak Yin, Lee Ching, Mui Yee
1954 | B&W | D Beta | Cantonese | 133min

Adapted from the play of the same name by Russian playwright Ostrovsky, the film is bookended with two thunderstorms and two women sharing similar fates. Yeung (Yip Ping) and Ah Ying (Pak Yin) both face the plight of being persecuted by the elder Tsui (Ma Si-tsang) through feudal code of ethics. Righteous in appearance and words, Tsui is, in fact, a conniving villain preying on the uneducated village people. In the film's emblematic scene, Ma Si-tsang meets with the Yeung family and is initially the epitome of sincerity and integrity. After he cheats money from Yeung's mother, he twists the truth and denounces Yeung's mother as owing him money instead. Ma Si-tsang's nuanced facial expressions along with director Ng Wui's camera angles make this memorable scene a testament to Ma's superb acting skills.