The film was originally made during the golden era of Cantonese opera crossing over with Hong Kong film, and its superior artistic standard is undeniable. The screenplay is adapted from a zaju opera by Zhang Shouqing. The story is about a courtesan (Pak Suet-sin) and a scholar (Yam Kim-fai) who fall in love while exchanging poems. Their romance is thwarted by an official (Lan Chi Pak). In spite of the assistance by a good friend (Leung Sing-por), under the masterful pen of playwright Tong Tik-sang, the two love-birds don't meet until the final scene. Director Lee Tit retains his normal subtle style, exquisitely combining the best of the two genres—Cantonese opera and film with delicate camera movements and editing that matches the opera music. Meanwhile, the elegant movements and opera stylings of the incredibly popular combination of Yam and Pak fully express the rich multiple layers of the art of the silver screen. The film has been digitally restored by the Archive in 2019, reinstating its artistic glory.

# Post-screening talk with Prof Chan Sau-yan & Sam Ho

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