Sun Yu (director)
Encyclopedia
Sun Yu (March 21, 1900 – July 11, 1990) was a major leftist film director
active in the 1930s in Shanghai
. One of the core directors of the Lianhua Film Company
, Sun Yu made a name for himself with a series of socially conscious dramas in the early to mid 1930s. With the war, Sun Yu made his way to the interior of the country, where he continued to make films glorifying the war effort against the Japanese.
His career took a turn for the worse upon his return to Shanghai in the late 1940s. In The Life of Wu Xun
, Sun Yu's big-budget biographical picture of the titular Qing Dynasty educator
, Sun attracted the wrath of Mao Zedong himself, who personally criticized the film in an essay. Though Sun never fully recovered from the episode, today, Sun Yu has emerged as one of the foremost filmmakers of China's golden age.
and educated first at Tsinghua University
in Beijing
before continuing his education in drama
at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, and Columbia University
in the 1920s.
Upon returning to China, Sun Yu directed his first film, A Romantic Swordsman, with the faltering Minxin Film Company
. Beginning in the 1930s, Sun Yu began a collaboration with the leftist film studio, Lianhua
, where he became one of the core group of "socially conscious" directors along with Cai Chusheng
, Fei Mu
, and others. While with Lianhua, Sun directed some of his most lasting works, including Wild Rose (1932), Loving Blood of the Volcano (1932), Daybreak
(1933), Little Toys
(1933), and The Big Road
(1934).
With the outbreak of the full-fledged war with Japan in 1937, Sun, like many of his colleagues, fled to the interior to the Nationalist wartime capital of Chongqing
where he directed several propaganda films praising the war effort.
Upon the end of the war, Sun Yu began preparing for his most important production yet, a biographical epic of the Qing Dynasty education, Wu Xun
. Sun's last major work, The Life of Wu Xun
was made with the Kunlun Film Company and starred one of the top actors of the day, Zhao Dan
, in the titular
role. Shortly after its release, however, The Life of Wu Xun was personally denounced by Mao Zedong
in a piece written for the People's Daily
. The flurry of criticism that Mao's denunciation triggered was the "first major politico-ideological campaign" of the post-1949 revolution, and its effects were immediate. As a result, Sun Yu's reputation was soon in ruins, and his career effectively stalled. Sun Yu would go on to direct only a handful of titles over the next twenty years. In 1985, thirty-five years after the release of The Life of Wuxun, members of the Chinese politburo finally admitted that Mao's campaign, and the criticisms that it instigated against the film, was essentially baseless.
Sun Yu died in Shanghai in 1990.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
active in the 1930s in Shanghai
Shanghai
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...
. One of the core directors of the Lianhua Film Company
Lianhua Film Company
The Lianhua Film Company was one of two major production companies based in Shanghai, China during the 1930s, the other being the Mingxing Film Company.-Names:...
, Sun Yu made a name for himself with a series of socially conscious dramas in the early to mid 1930s. With the war, Sun Yu made his way to the interior of the country, where he continued to make films glorifying the war effort against the Japanese.
His career took a turn for the worse upon his return to Shanghai in the late 1940s. In The Life of Wu Xun
The Life of Wu Xun
The Life of Wu Xun is a 1950 Chinese film directed by Sun Yu and starring Zhao Dan. A black-white movie, it was produced by Kunlun Film Studio...
, Sun Yu's big-budget biographical picture of the titular Qing Dynasty educator
Wu Xun
Wu Xun was a Chinese educational reformer who pioneered free popular education in the country. He became a hero of progressive culture in China, but in the 1960s during Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution his reputation was attacked and his body was exhumed and burned.- Biography :Wu was born in...
, Sun attracted the wrath of Mao Zedong himself, who personally criticized the film in an essay. Though Sun never fully recovered from the episode, today, Sun Yu has emerged as one of the foremost filmmakers of China's golden age.
Biography
Sun Yu was born in the city of ChongqingChongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
and educated first at Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University , colloquially known in Chinese as Qinghua, is a university in Beijing, China. The school is one of the nine universities of the C9 League. It was established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua Xuetang" or "Tsinghua College" and was renamed the "Tsinghua School" one year later...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
before continuing his education in drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in the 1920s.
Upon returning to China, Sun Yu directed his first film, A Romantic Swordsman, with the faltering Minxin Film Company
Minxin Film Company
The Minxin Film Company or the China Sun Film Company was one of the earliest movie studios in the history of Chinese cinema.- History :...
. Beginning in the 1930s, Sun Yu began a collaboration with the leftist film studio, Lianhua
Lianhua Film Company
The Lianhua Film Company was one of two major production companies based in Shanghai, China during the 1930s, the other being the Mingxing Film Company.-Names:...
, where he became one of the core group of "socially conscious" directors along with Cai Chusheng
Cai Chusheng
Resting Place= Babaoshan Revoluntionary CemeteryCai Chusheng was a Chinese film director of the pre-Communist era. Known best for his progressive output in the 1930s, Cai Chusheng later became a victim to the persecutions of the Cultural Revolution.- Early career :Born in Shanghai to Cantonese...
, Fei Mu
Fei Mu
Fei Mu was a major Chinese film director from the pre-Communist era.-Biography:Born in Shanghai, China, Fei Mu is considered by many to be one of the major film directors prior to the communist revolution in 1949...
, and others. While with Lianhua, Sun directed some of his most lasting works, including Wild Rose (1932), Loving Blood of the Volcano (1932), Daybreak
Daybreak (1933 film)
Daybreak is a 1933 Chinese silent film directed by Sun Yu for the Lianhua Film Company. It follows a young girl from a rural fishing village, Ling Ling as she moves to the glittering city of Shanghai...
(1933), Little Toys
Little Toys
Little Toys is a 1933 silent film directed by filmmaker Sun Yu. It is one of two films Sun Yu directed in 1933...
(1933), and The Big Road
The Big Road
The Big Road , also known as The Highway is a 1934 Chinese silent film directed by Sun Yu and starring Jin Yan and Li Lili. The film deals with a group of workers who are constructing a highway for use in the war against the Japanese....
(1934).
With the outbreak of the full-fledged war with Japan in 1937, Sun, like many of his colleagues, fled to the interior to the Nationalist wartime capital of Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
where he directed several propaganda films praising the war effort.
Upon the end of the war, Sun Yu began preparing for his most important production yet, a biographical epic of the Qing Dynasty education, Wu Xun
Wu Xun
Wu Xun was a Chinese educational reformer who pioneered free popular education in the country. He became a hero of progressive culture in China, but in the 1960s during Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution his reputation was attacked and his body was exhumed and burned.- Biography :Wu was born in...
. Sun's last major work, The Life of Wu Xun
The Life of Wu Xun
The Life of Wu Xun is a 1950 Chinese film directed by Sun Yu and starring Zhao Dan. A black-white movie, it was produced by Kunlun Film Studio...
was made with the Kunlun Film Company and starred one of the top actors of the day, Zhao Dan
Zhao Dan
Zhao Dan was a Chinese actor popular in the golden age of Chinese Cinema.-Biography:Zhao first became famous working in the Mingxing Film Company in the 1930s including playing opposite Zhou Xuan in Street Angel...
, in the titular
Wu Xun
Wu Xun was a Chinese educational reformer who pioneered free popular education in the country. He became a hero of progressive culture in China, but in the 1960s during Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution his reputation was attacked and his body was exhumed and burned.- Biography :Wu was born in...
role. Shortly after its release, however, The Life of Wu Xun was personally denounced by Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
in a piece written for the People's Daily
People's Daily
The People's Daily is a daily newspaper in the People's Republic of China. The paper is an organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China , published worldwide with a circulation of 3 to 4 million. In addition to its main Chinese-language edition, it has editions in English,...
. The flurry of criticism that Mao's denunciation triggered was the "first major politico-ideological campaign" of the post-1949 revolution, and its effects were immediate. As a result, Sun Yu's reputation was soon in ruins, and his career effectively stalled. Sun Yu would go on to direct only a handful of titles over the next twenty years. In 1985, thirty-five years after the release of The Life of Wuxun, members of the Chinese politburo finally admitted that Mao's campaign, and the criticisms that it instigated against the film, was essentially baseless.
Sun Yu died in Shanghai in 1990.
Selected filmography
| Year | English Title | Chinese Title | Studio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | A Romantic Swordsman | 鱼叉怪侠 | Minxin Film Company Minxin Film Company The Minxin Film Company or the China Sun Film Company was one of the earliest movie studios in the history of Chinese cinema.- History :... |
Directorial debut |
| 1930 | Spring Dream of an Old Capital | 故都春梦 | Lianhua Film Company Lianhua Film Company The Lianhua Film Company was one of two major production companies based in Shanghai, China during the 1930s, the other being the Mingxing Film Company.-Names:... |
|
| 1930 | Wild Flowers | 野草閒花 | Lianhua | Also known as Wild Flowers by the Road |
| 1932 | Wild Rose | 野玫瑰 | Lianhua | |
| 1932 | Facing the National Crisis | 共赴国难 | Lianhua | Co-directed with Cai Chusheng Cai Chusheng Resting Place= Babaoshan Revoluntionary CemeteryCai Chusheng was a Chinese film director of the pre-Communist era. Known best for his progressive output in the 1930s, Cai Chusheng later became a victim to the persecutions of the Cultural Revolution.- Early career :Born in Shanghai to Cantonese... , Shi Dongshan Shi Dongshan Shi Dongshan was a prominent Chinese film director throughout the 1920s and 1950s. Shi directed several films that have gained in stature in the intervening years, most notably Eight Thousand Li of Cloud and Moon.... , and Wang Cilong |
| 1932 | Loving Blood of the Volcano | 火山情血 | Lianhua | Also known as Volcano in the Blood |
| 1933 | Daybreak Daybreak (1933 film) Daybreak is a 1933 Chinese silent film directed by Sun Yu for the Lianhua Film Company. It follows a young girl from a rural fishing village, Ling Ling as she moves to the glittering city of Shanghai... |
天明 | Lianhua | |
| 1933 | Little Toys Little Toys Little Toys is a 1933 silent film directed by filmmaker Sun Yu. It is one of two films Sun Yu directed in 1933... |
小玩意 | Lianhua | |
| 1934 | Queen of Sports Queen of Sports - Cast :*Bai Lu*Han Langen*He Feiguang*Li Lili as Lin Ying*Liu Jiqun*Zhang Yi as Yunpeng-DVD release:Queen of Sports was released in the United States on Region 0 DVD on May 8, 2007 by Cinema Epoch. The disc featured English subtitles and also included Sun Yu's The Big Road.... |
体育皇后 | Lianhua | |
| 1935 | The Big Road The Big Road The Big Road , also known as The Highway is a 1934 Chinese silent film directed by Sun Yu and starring Jin Yan and Li Lili. The film deals with a group of workers who are constructing a highway for use in the war against the Japanese.... |
大路 | Lianhua | |
| 1937 | Madman's Rhapsody | 疯人狂想曲 | Lianhua | Segment of an anthology film, Symphony of Lianhua |
| 1950 | The Life of Wu Xun The Life of Wu Xun The Life of Wu Xun is a 1950 Chinese film directed by Sun Yu and starring Zhao Dan. A black-white movie, it was produced by Kunlun Film Studio... |
武训传 | Kunlun Film Company | |
| 1955 | Song Jingshi | 宋景诗 | Shanghai Film Studio Shanghai Film Studio Shanghai Film Studio is the film division of the Shanghai Film Group Corporation in Shanghai, China. It is responsible for the production of Chinese films and TV programs.-History:... |
Co-directed with Zheng Junli Zheng Junli Zheng Junli was a Chinese actor and director born in Shanghai and who rose to prominence in the golden age of Chinese Cinema.-Early years:... |
| 1957 | Brave the Wind and Waves | 乘风破浪 | Shanghai | |
| 1958 | The Legend of Lu Ban | 鲁班的传说 | Shanghai | |
External links
- Sun Yu at the Chinese Movie Data base
- Sun Yu and National Cinema
- Biography