This film has a tendency of social criticism, but it also shows the limitations of the author. On the one hand, it exposes and criticizes social injustice; On the other hand, it embodies the fantasy of reconciliation, especially the happy ending weakens its criticism. This movie is very dramatic. Hu Die plays Dabao and Bauer at the same time, which is very successful.
Douban jathyapple Fox Film Review;
Sister Flowers is the representative work of Zheng Qiuzheng, the first generation director in China, which was shot at 1934 and was the most popular film in 1930s. Hu Die plays Dabao and Bauer. Described a social problem of class difference and polarization between the rich and the poor. This theme runs through the plot of Social Ethics. It tells the story that Dabao and Bauer lived with their parents when they were young, and Dabao and his mother stayed in the country and lived a lonely life. Bauer entered the city with his father, grew up to be the princess of the prince and lived a luxurious life. The whole film sets the tone of class opposition in the dialogue between "we are poor" and "you are rich". When Dabao's family was too poor to cook, they were introduced to Bauer's family as wet nurses, which caused a dramatic conflict. When Bauer refused to lend money to treat her injured and dying husband, she was forced to steal something, which accidentally injured the life of the young master's wife and the conflict reached its climax.
Zheng Qiuzheng attached great importance to the educational function of movies, paid attention to reality, sympathized with the sufferings of the poor and condemned the cruelty of the rich, which was welcomed by the audience at that time.
In Sister Flowers, Zheng Qiuzheng also used various cinematic means, such as flashback lens to explain the joy of Dabao's childhood and the reasons for Dabao's separation. Dabao sang a lullaby with a long lens. The picture is real, simple and natural, and very touching. The use of close-ups shows Dabao's sadness, pain and anger, as well as Bauer's frivolity, meanness and cunning through the expressions of characters.
The use of contrast in the whole play not only makes the lives of the poor and the rich completely different, but also makes the poor interdependent and the rich heartless. There are young Dabao couples chasing and playing vertically, and the atmosphere is relaxed. The scene was lively, and then my father-in-law died, two children were born, my mother-in-law was seriously ill, and my husband was in the dilemma of borrowing rice every day.
Seldom use location. One is when fleeing, it has an open panorama. The other is the scene at the end of the movie where Bauer and Dabao escape and the car is speeding on the avenue. Most of them are interiors, houses and yards in the country, and the residence of Dabaobar's father in the Commander-in-Chief's Office and the inner court of the government. But watching the whole movie is not as crowded as many indoor dramas in Chinese mainland today.
What was wonderful was the performances of the actors, especially Hu Die, who played two roles. Through hair style, clothes and makeup on the face, we can distinguish two different roles, especially in makeup. Dabao is handsome and cheerful with thin cheeks, while Bauer is arrogant and vulgar with plump cheeks. The most important thing is the performance of the actors. Bauer's body language is open and closed, and his expression is exaggerated, showing his arrogance; Dabao is calm, simple, virtuous and kind, which shows a strong and forbearing side. Characters on facebook make it easier for Hu Die to create different characters, but they are very clear.
However, what surprised me most was the ending. I wouldn't be surprised if Dabao's complaint is only about the oppression of the poor by the rich and the hatred of class opposition, because this is the layout of the whole article. However, Dabao told Bauer that when you are old, the prince will find another woman, and then the evil father will ignore you. So he shouted: "Poverty is poverty, and poverty is our women."
It was because of this story that Bauer understood his situation and vowed to save his sister from prison. Finally, he left the yamen with his mother and sister.
It is because of this sudden change at the end that I was unexpectedly shocked. The two treasures opposite the class suddenly became the victims and fellow travelers of the class; Accusing the rich class of being cruel and heartless, and the poor people's unbearable experience of being poor actually aggravated the oppression of men on women. This consciousness is too new. Let's not say whether this ending is abrupt or not, nor how pale and powerless it is. This sudden consciousness surprised me a little. This is really a modern female consciousness!
How much profit can classic old movies get? Ha ha.