Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm
Encyclopedia
Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm is a 1935
Chinese film
, also known as Children of Troubled Times, about an intellectual who leaves to fight in the Second Sino-Japanese War
. The movie was directed by Xu Xingzhi and the scriptwriters were Tian Han
and Xia Yan
. It starred actor Yuan Muzhi
and actress Wang Renmei .
with his friend Liang. However, whereas Liang soon joins the resistance against the Japanese
invaders, Xin chooses to pursue a relationship with a glamorous and westernized widow in Qingdao
.
After hearing that Liang has been killed however, Xin has a change of heart and rushes to join the war effort.
. It was based on a story by Tian Han
, a card-carrying Communist party member since 1932, who was arrested shortly after it was published. In addition, it starred Yuan Muzhi, who would join the Communists in 1940 and had music by the Communist composer Nie Er
.
The story itself, with its tale of a member of the literati who learns to abandon the decadence of western culture for self-sacrifice was also a common theme among many of the leftist films of the period.
", was sung by Gu Menghe and Yuan Muzhi
. The song was released as an album by the Pathé Records
label (which later became part of EMI
in 1935).
"The March of the Volunteers
" was selected as the national anthem
of the People's Republic of China
in 1949. This decision was formally written into the Constitution of the People's Republic of China
in March 2004.
1935 in film
-Events:*Judy Garland signs a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer .*Seven year old Shirley Temple wins a special Academy Award.*The Bantu Educational Kinema Experiment started in order to educate the Bantu peoples.-Top grossing films:-Academy Awards:...
Chinese film
Cinema of China
The Chinese-language cinema has three distinct historical threads: Cinema of Hong Kong, Cinema of China, and Cinema of Taiwan. Since 1949 the cinema of mainland China has operated under restrictions imposed by the Communist Party of China's State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television and...
, also known as Children of Troubled Times, about an intellectual who leaves to fight in the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
. The movie was directed by Xu Xingzhi and the scriptwriters were Tian Han
Tian Han
Tian Han , born in Changsha, Hunan, was a Chinese drama activist, playwright, a leader of revolutionary music and films, as well as a translator and poet. Tian contributed a great deal to the development of Chinese modern drama as well as Chinese opera...
and Xia Yan
Xia Yan
Xia Yan was a Chinese playwright and screenwriter.Xia entered Zhejiang Industrial School in 1915 ....
. It starred actor Yuan Muzhi
Yuan Muzhi
Yuan Muzhi was an actor and director from the Republic of China and later of the People's Republic of China.- Career :...
and actress Wang Renmei .
Plot
The plot follows the young poet Xin Baihe (played by Yuan Muzhi) who flees ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
with his friend Liang. However, whereas Liang soon joins the resistance against the Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
invaders, Xin chooses to pursue a relationship with a glamorous and westernized widow in Qingdao
Qingdao
' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
.
After hearing that Liang has been killed however, Xin has a change of heart and rushes to join the war effort.
Communist themes
The film was a strongly left-leaning production, produced by the leftist Diantong Film CompanyDiantong Film Company
Diantong Film Company was a short-lived but important film studio and production company during the 1930s in Shanghai, China. Though it produced only four films during its existence between 1934-1935, all four films became important examples of the left-leaning Chinese cinema of the 1930s...
. It was based on a story by Tian Han
Tian Han
Tian Han , born in Changsha, Hunan, was a Chinese drama activist, playwright, a leader of revolutionary music and films, as well as a translator and poet. Tian contributed a great deal to the development of Chinese modern drama as well as Chinese opera...
, a card-carrying Communist party member since 1932, who was arrested shortly after it was published. In addition, it starred Yuan Muzhi, who would join the Communists in 1940 and had music by the Communist composer Nie Er
Nie Er
Nie Er , was a Chinese composer. He is known for composing the national anthem of the People's Republic of China, the March of the Volunteers. In numerous Shanghai magazines he went by the English name "George Njal"...
.
The story itself, with its tale of a member of the literati who learns to abandon the decadence of western culture for self-sacrifice was also a common theme among many of the leftist films of the period.
Theme song ("The March of the Volunteers")
The theme song to the movie, "The March of the VolunteersMarch of the Volunteers
March of the Volunteers is the national anthem of the People's Republic of China , written by the noted poet and playwright Tian Han with music composed by Nie Er. This composition is a musical march...
", was sung by Gu Menghe and Yuan Muzhi
Yuan Muzhi
Yuan Muzhi was an actor and director from the Republic of China and later of the People's Republic of China.- Career :...
. The song was released as an album by the Pathé Records
Pathé Records
Pathé Records was a France-based international record label and producer of phonographs, active from the 1890s through the 1930s.- Early years :...
label (which later became part of EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
in 1935).
"The March of the Volunteers
March of the Volunteers
March of the Volunteers is the national anthem of the People's Republic of China , written by the noted poet and playwright Tian Han with music composed by Nie Er. This composition is a musical march...
" was selected as the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in 1949. This decision was formally written into the Constitution of the People's Republic of China
Constitution of the People's Republic of China
The Constitution of the People's Republic of China is the highest law within the People's Republic of China. The current version was adopted by the 5th National People's Congress on December 4, 1982 with further revisions in 1988, 1993, 1999, and 2004. Three previous state constitutions—those of...
in March 2004.
External links
- Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm at the Chinese Movie Database (as Children of Trouble Times)