Shi Jung

Taiwanese film.

A Taiwanese language film

Bun-de (Wen-de in Mandarin, played by Shi Jun/Shih Chun) is a shy young man. Aggressively courted by all the girls in the neighbourhood, he only has eyes for the pretty and mischievous Gui-kia (Jin Mei/Chin Mei). She finds every means possible to meet up with her boyfriend, although he is closely watched over by a very protective father, A-Gao. When the parents finally agree on the wedding, they realise that they used to be in love. Accusing each other of betrayal, they refuse to allow their children to marry. Bunde and Gui-kia decide to elope.

Nightclub singer Chun-mei falls for violinist Cheng-hsiung, who writes her a birthday melody. Her father's illness, debt, and violence force them apart. Directed by Japanese filmmaker Yuasa Namio with a transnational cast, the Mandarin feature is followed by a Taiwanese-language trailer. When the same faces and scenes speak in different languages, dubbing alters character, emotional distance, market position, and cinematic identity, while the gap invites us to imagine its lost Taiwanese soundtrack.

Tshui-Giok’s step-father sells her to a club to pay off his debt. But when her boyfriend, Kok-Liong, learns about it he helps get her out and plans to marry her. However, Kok-Liong’s mother disapproves of the marriage and arranges for him to marry a wealthy girl, Hun-Kiau. Years later, when Kok-Liong and Tshui-Giok meet again, all their feelings return. Though Tshui-Giok ultimately decides to break up with Kok-Liong for the sake of Hun-Kiau, her leaving drives Kok-Liong mad and Hun-Kiau has no choice but to set Kok-Liong free, so he and Tshui-Giok can be together.