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    • Module 1: Laborer’s Love (1922)
    • Module 2: Sports Queen (1934)
    • Module 3: Goddess (1934)
    • Module 4: The Great Road (1934)
    • Module 5: New Women (1935)
    • Module 6: Song at Midnight (1937)
    • Module 7: Street Angels (1937)
    • Module 8: Long Live the Missus! (1947)
    • Module 9: Spring River Flows East (1947)
    • Module 10: Spring in a Small Town (1948)
    • Module 11: Crows and Sparrows (1949)
    • Module 12: Course Wrap-Up
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Daybreak 天明 (1933)

The film:

Tian ming
Written and directed by Sun Yu
Studio: United Photoplay Services (Lianhua)
Date of release: February 2, 1933
Cast: Li Lili, Gao Zhanfei, Luo Peng, Liu Jiqun, Yuan Congmei, Wang Guilin
English subtitles translated by Christopher Rea

An idealistic young man and woman from the countryside move to Shanghai to begin a new life, only to be ruined by a corrupt city. The man is fired, and the woman is tricked into prostitution. She redeems herself by conducting espionage in preparation for the arrival of the National Revolutionary Army, which is sweeping north in their campaign against the warlords. Will she live to see a new dawn for China?

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Sun Yu 孫瑜
Sun Yu, an influential film director, made his name in the silent era as one of the most prolific and talented filmmakers of United Photoplay Services (Lianhua Studio)

Sun Yu in UPS Pictorial 1935-01

Li Lili 黎莉莉
Li Lili appeared as a physically robust, playful, and outgoing "sweet big sister" in many Lianhua films of the silent and sound eras.

Li Lili studio portrait

The Great Road 大路 (1934)
In this genre-bending romp, a band of road workers, aided by two women, build a great road to help China fight off invaders.

The Great Road 1934 still

Sports Queen 體育皇后 (1934)
A country girl joins a women's sports academy in Shanghai and becomes a national track star. Will she learn the true athletic spirit?

Sports Queen 1934 production still track

Playthings 小玩意 (1933)
Artisan toymakers struggling to survive amidst war and competition from big business.

Playthings 1933

Poor Daddy 怕老婆 (1929)
Poor Daddy (1929) is a slapstick silent comedy starring Liu Jiqun

Poor Daddy 1929

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