The Difficult Couple

1939 chinese film produced by Zhang Schichuan and Zheng Zhengqiu

  • 29 September 1913 (1913-09-29) (Shanghai)[1]
Running time
30 minutesCountryChinaLanguageChinese

The Difficult Couple (Chinese: 难夫难妻; pinyin: Nànfū Nànqī), also translated as Die for Marriage, is a 1913 Chinese film. It is known for being the earliest Chinese feature film. Although it had a dialogue of only a little more than 1,000 characters, it was the first Chinese film with a script.[2] It is considered a lost film.[3][4]

Plot

The story unfolds in an ancient Chinese village where a young couple resides amidst poverty. They lean on each other for support, but their marriage faces severe challenges due to the hardships of life and external pressures.

The husband, a diligent farmer, struggles against natural disasters and other uncontrollable factors, making their lives exceedingly difficult. His wife, a kind and resilient woman, silently supports him at home, striving to sustain the family's livelihood.

However, as the pressures of life mount, conflicts between the couple begin to surface. They grapple with the hardships of life and societal pressures, leading to tension and crisis in their marriage. Ultimately, amidst various trials and tribulations, the film delves into how this couple navigates and resolves their predicament.

See also

  • Cinema of China

References

  1. ^ "中国首部自制故事片 《难夫难妻》诞生一百周年". Tencent. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  2. ^ "难夫难妻". Cinepedia.cn. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  3. ^ "1913年:《难夫难妻》-当摄影机遇到文明戏(图)". Sina. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Film Industry in China -- china.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 15 October 2020.


  • v
  • t
  • e