Three years after Fong Yim-fun formed her own San Yim Yeung Opera Troupe in 1953, renowned librettist Lee Siu-wan wrote Lover's Tears for the troupe, adapting it from the Kun opera Zhong Yi Lie. It was later made into film, in which male lead Sun Ma Si-tsang was replaced by Law Kim-long, with whom Fong had often worked. He plays Chow, whose sworn brother To is falsely accused by an evil minister, who demands that Chow bring him To's wife for ransom. Chow's wife Bo (Fong) goes instead, with designs to assassinate the minister. The plan fails, and Chow is obliged by official duty to administer a savage beating on his own wife. Later, To rises in the government ranks to become Minister of Justice and, sentences Chow to death as he wrongly believes that Chow betrayed him…Fong adds a touch of principled comportment to her usual persona of the kindly, supportive wife and her chemistry with Law as a loving couple readily sacrificing themselves for each other and for friends is at once delightful and moving. Director Chow Sze-luk, who started his career as a cinematographer, animates the eventful story with carefully-composed images and orchestrated camerawork, complementing his splendid mise-en-scène with calibrated editing that captures the tonal colours of this musical drama.

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