CAAM co-presents A SPRAY OF PLUM BLOSSOMS at the 2010 San Francisco Silent Film Festival, Friday July 16th, 2:00pm at the Castro Theatre.
One of the most prolific Chinese directors of the silent era, Bu Wancang based this film on William Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona, setting the action in China, circa 1930 and casting China’s favorite on-screen couple, Ruan Ling-yu and Jin Yan. Like any Shakespeare comedy, Plum Blossoms is replete with star-crossed lovers, mistaken identity, and a satisfying happy ending. By situating the play in the ’30s-era Chinese army, the “gentlemen” of the Shakespeare’s title are the film’s officers, the duke is a warlord, and his daughter’s ladies-in-waiting are military police!
Meet the Authors on the Mezzanine: Richard J. Meyer with Ruan Ling-yu: The Goddess of Shanghai; Elaine Mae Woo with Anna May Wong: Frosted Yellow Willows (DVD)
Underwritten by: Richard J. Meyer and Susan Harmon.
Accompanied By: Donald Sosin
Directed By: Bu Wancang
Cast: Ruan-Lingyu, Jin Yan
Presented with both Mandarin and English intertitles.
A SPRAY OF PLUM BLOSSOMS
Screening July 16, 2010 at 2:00pm
Castro Theatre
General $14 | Members $12
