SO SIU SIU
Filmed on Location at the West Lake of Hang-Chow, China.
SYNOPSIS
The tomb of So Siu-siu is just one of the numerous historic spots in picturesque Hang-Chow, a world famous resort with the West Lake lying peacefully in its western suburd. The tomb is in the meantime the relic of a romance dating back to the South Sung Dynasty.
So Siu-siu is an extraordinary girl whose faithfulness to the man she loves and the generous help that she gives unhesitantly to anyone in need are regarded as imcompatible to her status of a sing-song girl. Endowed with unsurpassed beauty, she masters the arts of poetry, painting, chess and music.
It is almost love at the first sight when So meets Yuen Yuk, son of the Prime Minister and a talented youth, on the beautiful lakeside. They soon become a happy couple with Yuen spending most of his time in So's house, singing and writing tegeter.
Mang Long, the new prefect of Hangchow, cares more for wing and women than his office. He wants so's presence at his dinner party to entertain the guests, and troops are sent for her. They fail to find So in her house as she is out on the lakeside near the tomb of Ngok-fei, a noted general killed by traitors, listening to the songs sung by Bao Yan, a scholar brought up in a poor family. So has full sympathy for the talented but poor scholar. She donates one hundred taels of silver to enable him to take part in the examination so as to realise his high ideals.
No sooner has So returned to her house than she is seized by the waiting soldiders and brought to the prefect's residence. In the ensuing argument with the singsong girl, the prefect, instead of gaining an upper hand, finds himself in such embaras-sment that he threatens to detain her in his house. Yuen Yuk rushes in time to her rescue.
The return of Yuen To, the Prime Minister, to the capital provides Mang Long with an opportunity of driving a wedge between the Minister and his son. Mang Long accuses the young scholar of indulging in wine and women, bringing disgrace to the family. Yuen To is in such a rage that he personally gives order for his troops to have his son arrested.
The Yuens tried in vain to force marriage on their son with another girl. It turns out to be a complete tragedy. Yuen Yuk suceumbs to his injuries after he has jumped from his mindow in an attempt to escape.
So Siu-siu, ill and heart-broken, decides to sacrifice herself for the sake of her good friend Lau Tsui-wan who is in love with a poor scholar Ning-Chuk-ming. She goes to the party of the paefect, and is prepared to face the expected hnmi-liation, all for the purpose of getting 1,000 taels of silver in return, with which she could buy freedom for Lau from the brothel.
Bao Yan, now a high official in the government, returns to pay respect to the person who helped him to succesf. He finds So Siu-siu dying yet happy to see his triumphant teturn. While Bao is singing to her to express his deep gratitude, So Siu-siu draws her last breath with a smile.
With English Subtitles
片上印有中英文字幕