Overview: Produced by the New China Film Company, this 10-reel silent film from director Fu Shunnan concerns a young man’s difficulty in remaining loyal to his wealthy father after discovering he is a traitor to his country. This discovery leads to conflict and strained relations until the father develops a terminal illness. On his deathbed, the father confesses to having cheated a business partner out of a fortune in his youth which led to years of guilt and worse. Using knowledge of the crime as blackmail, a foreign intelligence service had forced the father to spy for them. Knowing the truth, the son vows to track down his father’s victimized partner and return his fortune to him to make amends. The film provides an early example of conflict associated with the Confucian ideal of filial piety, or respect for parents and ancestors. In the martial arts world, this notion of duty and respect transferred to teachers who became parental figures and role models for their students. Filial piety provided the basis for many conflicts in martial arts films in years to come.
AKA: A Gallant Young Man, A Young Hero, Youth With a Sense of Justice, Xia yi shao nian, Xiayi Shaonian, 《侠义少年》
Genre:
Companies: New China Film Company
Release Date: 1924 (China)
Producer:
Director: Fu Shunnan
Action Director:
Cast: Zhao Yongli, Fu Nanping, Bao Yuqing
