Spring in a Small Town (1948)

 Fei Mu's "Spring in a Small Town"


In 2005, Fei Mu's 1948 film "Spring in a Small Town" was voted the Best Chinese film ever made by the Hong Kong Film Awards. The film is highly regarded for its minimalist style and themes centering on post-war trauma. During the film's release, China was still in a state of dilapidation. The country had been torn apart by war and its residents were still psychologically recovering from the horror and trauma. The film acted as a quiet meditation on this trauma and in a not so roundabout way, reconciled with the Chinese Civil War that was taking place at that time.

The film follows Yumen, a married woman living in a ruined family compound owned by her husband, Liyan. The estate is falling apart and its ruins represents the ruins of the Chinese state after the end of the war. Yumen is depressed and unhappy in her loveless marriage and Liyan is unpleasant towards his wife due to his worsening illness. When a friend of Liyan comes to visit, it is revealed to be a former lover of Yumen. This friend, Zhang, and Yumen reconcile their past and attempt to plan to run away together. However, after Liyan attempts suicide, Yumen feels that she must stay with her husband. 

As I said before, the film is very minimalist and doesn't overt its characters' emotions too overtly. The film's quiet contemplation of the post-war tension and trauma creates a contemplative viewing experience. I found this experience pleasing, although I perhaps needed to watch it with more reverent attention to fully get the intended experience. 



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