I once listened to this novel on radio and was very impressed and moved by it. (Sweet memory of those nice audio book type of broadcasting program in China in old days.) However, the movie did not do the justice to the novel due to the bad screenplay and the directing. The love and attraction between the two leads were well written and very touching in the original book, and I can't believe it was nearly untold in the movie. In fact, I doubt anyone who hasn't read the original novel can actually understand what kind of relationship and unspoken love exist between Brigitte and Charlie's characters before Brigitte's marriage to her fiance (played by Jiang Ming). The most crucial part in the novel, the foundation to the love triangle, was totally understated in the movie. If their deep love and passion weren't told, how could the audiences understand why they were so suffering? The whole story just took apart. This was the fatal problem with this movie. Badly done, indeed. The director Liu Weibin (also a former actor) should be responsible for his poor interpretation to a good story.
OK, enough for my ranting.
The most impressive scene is when Charlie rushes to stop Brigitte from getting married only to find out that he is too late. It's such a heartbreaking scene that Charlie kneels down hopelessly with an excruciating expression on his face, his eyes filled with anger, despair and pain. Brigitte looks at him and gets tears on her face while being dragged away by her new husband. Charlie is always good at expressing the deep emotions. Look at his eyes, his looks, his face, and his body language, you can feel his great pain. This scene is so in-charged and well done. Many years later, whenever I think of Charlie in a heartbreaking moment, this scene would always pop up in my head first.
I can't remember what the ending is like in the original novel nor the original movie's ending when I first watched it (too long ago). But from the recently released VCD, only Brigitte's husband is dead. Brigitte is saved eventually, which is only told by her narrative.
Even the seemingly promising ending can't save the movie, since the foundation of the movie is damaged permanently. I wish I could have been the director to give a new look of this movie and not to waste the talents of my favorite couple Brigitte&Charlie!
BTW, I really love the two Chinese titles of the movie.
Synopsis
Jia-yi (played by Brigitte) has already got engaged to a nice guy (played by Jiang Ming) and has been keeping a polite and lifeless relationship with her fiance. Her cousin Gao Ming (played by Charlie) comes to live with her family, and gradually an unspoken love has been built up between Jia-yi and Gao Ming within two years. Gao Ming finally tries to encourage Jia-yi to get out of her engagement and get together with him. However, Jia-yi is stuck in the convention and pressure coming from her parents, the traditional moral issue, and her younger sister Jia-ying's crush on Gao Ming. She gives up and marries to her fiance. Gao Ming attempts suicide and nearly dies. Soon Jia-yi's marriage is proved to be a big mistake since it isn't built up on the basis of love. Jia-yi's husband can't stand her love for Gao Ming and makes a final miserable set-up. He invited both Jia-yi and Gao Ming to a opening talk, and poisons the wine and leads to its tragedy ending.
Trivia
The director Liu Weibin thinks Brigitte&Charlie are a perfect screen couple. Although I disagree with Liu Weibin's directing in this movie, I have to say he's got the eyes. Brigitte&Charlie, indeed, are perfect on screen. Enough said.
Novel: Yan Qin
Director: Liu Weibin
Starring: Brigitte Lin, Charlie Chin, Jiang Ming, Zhang Yingzhen
Singer: Feng Feifei
Year: 1979