The Unforgettable Character
The Unforgettable Character is a 1975 Taiwanese romantic drama film directed by Chang Mei-chun and written by Chiung Yao.
| The Unforgettable Character | |
|---|---|
 video cover | |
| Chinese | 在水一方 |
| Mandarin | Zài Shuǐ Yī Fāng |
| Literally | On One Side of the Water |
| Directed by | Chang Mei-chun |
| Produced by | Chang Jen-dao |
| Written by | Chiung Yao |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Lin Chia-ching |
| Cinematography | Chen Jung-shu |
Release date |
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Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | Taiwan |
| Language | Mandarin |
Plot
After the death of her parents, Hsiao-shuang begins to live with the Chu family in Taipei, who treat her like their own child. The Chu's oldest child Shih-yao deeply loves her, but being crippled he's hesitant to confess his love. Hsiao-shuang quickly falls in love with the eloquent and charismatic wannabe writer Yu-wen, but their marriage is far from blissful. Yu-wen, an irresponsible dreamer and impractical perfectionist, fails to write anything and frequently vents his frustration on Hsiao-shuang. Hsiao-shuang tries her hardest to support him and the family even during her pregnancy. Shih-yao helps Hsiao-shuang sell her songs, but that further angers Yu-wen, now addicted to gambling. After Yu-wen forcefully grabs a cherished jade from her to gamble away, Hsiao-shuang has a miscarriage and files for divorce. Hoping to encourage him, she still promises him that she will get back with him if he comes back with a finished work. Years later, when news of Yu-wen's terminal illness reaches Hsiao-shuang, she immediately arrives at his place in southern Taiwan only to find him dying with his book already completed. After his death, Shih-yao presents Hsiao-shuang a gift, which turns out to be the jade Yu-wen lost 4 years ago. Hsiao-shuang realizes Shih-yao still loves her after all these years.
Cast
- Brigitte Lin as Tu Hsiao-shuang, a beautiful and musically gifted 18-year-old orphan
- Han Chiang as Chu Chih-chien, a former friend of Hsiao-shuang's late father
- Lu Pi-yun as Chu Chih-chien's kind mother
- Chang Ping-yu as Hsin-pei, Chu Chih-chien's wife
- Ku Ming-lun as Shih-yao, Chu Chih-chien's oldest child, a 29-year-old introverted and passionate television producer
- Chen Lu-shan as Shih-ching, Chu Chih-chien's second child
- Chen Yu-ching as Lee Chien, Shih-ching's husband
- Tien New as Shih-hui, Chu Chih-chien's youngest child, an outgoing and enthusiastic 19-year-old student
- Yeh Ming-te as Yu-nung, Shih-hui's boyfriend
- Chin Han as Lu Yu-wen, Yu-nung's pal from the military who aspires to win the Nobel Prize in Literature
Music
Zai shui yifang (在水一方; zài shuǐ yīfāng) is a 1975 Mandarin album, released by Kolin Records (歌林). The songs on A-side are sung by Chiang Lei (江蕾) and those on B-side by Frankie Kao (高凌風).
"Zai shui yifang", sometimes translated "On the Other Side of the Water",[1] and "Ni zenme shuo" (你怎麼說) were later covered by other singers, including Teresa Teng in her 1980 album of a similar name.
Lyrics were written by Chiung Yao, and music was composed by Lin Chia-ching (林家慶), unless otherwise. Only songs that are listed as theme songs and instrumental are heard in the film.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Chinese | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Telling the Last Night's Dream" (Sub-theme) | 昨夜夢中相訴; zuóyè mèngzhōng xiāng sù | |||
| 2. | "Please Calmly Listen to Me" (Sub-theme) | 請你靜靜聽我; qǐng nǐ jìngjìng tīng wǒ | |||
| 3. | "zài shuǐ yīfāng" (Main theme) | 在水一方 | |||
| 4. | "Blue Ocean" | Unknown | Unknown | 藍色的海洋; lánsè de hǎiyáng | |
| 5. | "nǐ zěnme shuō" | Shang Kwan-yue (上官月) | Szu Ma-liang (司馬亮) | 你怎麼說 | |
| 6. | "Telling the Last Night's Dream" (Instrumental) | 昨夜夢中相訴 |
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Chinese | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "zài shuǐ yīfāng" (Main theme) | 在水一方 | |||
| 2. | "Sunset" (Sub-theme) | 陽光下; yángguāng xià | |||
| 3. | "Square Brick Road" | Hsuan Ju (玄瞿) | Shin Yi (欣逸) | 方磚路上; fāng zhuān lùshang | |
| 4. | "Ocean, Sky, My Heart" | Lin Wen-lung (林文隆) | Lin Wen-lung (林文隆) | 大海·天空·我的心; dàhǎi, tiānkōng, wǒ de xīn | |
| 5. | "You Take Away My Heart" | Tu Fei (涂非) | Tu Fei (涂非) | 你帶走了我的心; nǐ dàizǒu le wǒ de xīn | |
| 6. | "zài shuǐ yīfāng" (Instrumental) | 在水一方 |
References
- "Chinese pop music since the 1980s". China.org.cn. December 2008.
External links
- 黑膠博覽會【935】在水一方......江 蕾 & 高凌風 主唱 (Zai shui yi fang) at A Jun's blog in Yahoo! Hong Kong (Chinese)
- Frankie Kao discography
- The Unforgettable Character at the Hong Kong Movie Database (Chinese version)
- The Unforgettable Character (在水一方) at the China Movie DataBase (Chinese)
- The Unforgettable Character (在水一方) at DigitalArchives.tw