Sisters and Flowers is the masterpiece of Zheng Zhengqiu, a first-generation Chinese director.
Chinese feature film (black and white). Zheng Zhengqiu adapted it from his own stage play The Nobleman and the Prisoner. The movie reflects the social conditions of China in the 1930s with the different fates and encounters of twin sisters Dabao and Erbao. The movie has a social critical tendency and also shows certain limitations of the author.
On the one hand, it exposes and criticizes social injustice; on the other hand, it reflects the fantasy mood of conciliationism, especially the happy ending that weakens its critical nature. The movie is dramatic, and the two characters of Dabao and Erbao are portrayed very successfully. When the movie was released, it set a box office record of playing for 60 days in a row. There is also a 1952 version of the movie.
Introduction of Zheng Zhengqiu's life and experience:
Zheng Zhengqiu (January 25, 1889-July 16, 1935) was originally known as Zheng Fangze, No. Bochang, alias Yak Fung, a native of Chaoyang, Guangdong Province (now Yanding Village, Chengtian Town, Chaonan District, Shantou City). He was a director, screenwriter and theater critic. He was one of the earliest screenwriters and directors in China, and is known as the "Father of Chinese Cinema".
In 1910, Zheng Zhengqiu began to engage in theater criticism. In the second year of the Republic of China (1913), he wrote and directed China's first short feature film, "Difficult Husband, Difficult Wife". In the same year, he began to write and perform new plays. In the 11th year of the Republic of China (1922), he and Zhang Shichuan founded the Star Film Company.
In 1923, he wrote the screenplay for the feature film "The Orphan Saves His Ancestor". In 1932, he wrote and directed the movie "Flower of Freedom". In 1934, she wrote and directed the feature film Sister Flowers. On June 5, 1935, the war movie "Fervent Loyalty" was released.
In the morning of July 16, 1935, Zheng Zhengqiu died in Shanghai at the age of 46 due to illness.