Story 2 — "Dadaocheng 1911"

Special notes

This segment is a distillation of the essense of Hou's full-length film Flowers of Shanghai (IMDb).

There is a strong counter-point between the peaceful piano music that is the primary soundtrack to this story and the story content. However, the performed song (by Ah Mei-1) is very close to the pain of the story content.

A student (thanks Cynthia!) researched the songs that open this segment and close this segment. Below are her results. This is considerably more information than the basics listed in the Scene Summaries, Scene 7. Setting aside the meaning of the lyrics, although they are not irrelevant, the timbre of these songs is exactly the context of this story:

I checked the link on the page [listed in Scene 7], and 05 Kang Kun Kiat-Thok (Nous Nous Sommes Unis) 共君结托 is the song at the beginning, and 07 To-Bi Ke (Le Treillis De Roses) 茶薇架 is the song at the end.

The following link is the website of Three Times at Yahoo! Taiwan Movie:http://tw.movie.yahoo.com/mstory.html?t=movie&id=1424
[The film details] mentions the songs: 清末民初時期的南管樂曲「共君結託」和「茶薇架」.

I also found out some websites for you to look at and listen. [Wallace: Also, both of these songs are on YouTube if you cut-and-paste the song titles, but I haven't found one of good quality.]

This is similar to one of your links on Module 02 about the singer: http://blog.roodo.com/wien/archives/13070583.html

This is the song "To-Bi Ke (Le Treillis De Roses) 茶薇架" and its lyrics: http://www.imusiccn.com/player/test.asp?id=248988

This one is the song "Kang Kun Kiat-Thok (Nous Nous Sommes Unis) 共君结托", but unfortunately, I cannot find the lyrics for this one:
http://www.xiami.com/song/play?ids=/song/playlist
/id/86753/object_name/default/object_id/0

I can explain the lyrics (茶薇架) to you in detail if you think it will help, but just simply say that it's about this girl has so much pain that she cannot express to anyone, and also sings at the end that they are just like the cowherd and weaver fairy, who are separated by the Milky Way.

Setting

This story is set in a bordello and involves high-ranking courtesans who potentially can become concubines to important men. The time is 1911 and Taiwan is under Japanese control since 1895. From wiki about the early years of the occupation:

The "early years" of Japanese administration on Taiwan typically refers to the period between the Japanese forces' first landing in May 1895 and the Ta-pa-ni Incident of 1915, which marked the high point of armed resistance. During this period, popular resistance to Japanese rule was high, and the world questioned whether a non-Western nation such as Japan could effectively govern a colony of its own. An 1897 session of the Japanese Diet debated whether to sell Taiwan to France. During these years, the post of Governor-General of Taiwan was held by a military general, as the emphasis was on suppression of the insurgency. (Taiwan under Japanese rule)

Story

This is an incredibly painful story told so quietly that it is easy not to notice the bite of that pain. Although as an artistic expression, it is best to allow the details of this story to slowly dawn, I feel it is better here to note aspects of the story for purposes of opening up discussion about the story rather than discussion that simply answers the question "What was the story?"

In this segment our main woman, Ah Mei-1, is abused in three different ways.

Ah Mei-2, how is junior to her and who it seems she has been helpful towards, sees that she will be trapped at the bordello just like Ah Mei-1 is unless she does something. She gets out by getting one of her clients to impregnate her.

The married Mr Chang, who is loved by Ah Mei-1, wants to keep Ah Mei-1 in the bordello for his convenient visits. Although he helped pay Ah Mei-2's way out of the bordello, he does not plan to redeem Ah Mei-1 in the same way. Ah Mei-1 had not hoped to be become his mistress (and thus leave the bordello) until she saw him help Ah Mei-2. Then she began to wonder.

Ah Mei-1 had been promised by the bordello's madame that she could leave once her junior was old enough to take a more major role. However, Ah Mei-2 escaped. The madame, knowing the value of Ah Mei-1, has found another junior for Ah Mei-1 to train, but selected a very young girl — now Ah Mei-1 will have to work for at least another 10 years. Of couse, by the time her contract is over, she will be rather old and therefore has probably lost forever the chance to be redeemed as a concubine.

The irony of this story is that while Mr Chang fights for the liberation of Taiwan, he does nothing for the liberation of Ah Mei-1.

Questions for the second session:

THREETIMES(2)-1. [Part of this question can be answered even if you have only viewed Story 2, but the key portions of the question require having seen the full film.] About xin (信). Specifically in this segment, are there examples of xin not being upheld? Do you consider Mr. Chang to be deceptive is his behavior? How about Ah-Mei 2? Did she get pregnant on purpose? How about the madame of the brothel? Has she kept her promise to Ah-Mei 1? Across all three segments, is it correct to say that acts of not upholding xin cluster in Segment Three or, if not cluster, seems somehow different than in the other two segments? Overall, what seems to be the director's attitude towards faithlessness (not keeping a promise)

Scene summaries — DVD menu Scenes 7-13 0:42:31-1:21:37, elapsed time 0:39)

Note: All scene summaries for all movies were made by me, usually fairly quickly while viewing the film in real time and typing as it happens. There are bound to be errors. I remind students of the extra credit offer described at the scene summary section of the page "House of Flying Daggers-Module 01".

Story Two: Dadaocheng, 1911 "A Time for Freedom" (自由夢)

Note: Both women in this segment are named Ah Mei (阿妹). That should be understood as a nickname, not a name proper.

DVD Scene 7 (begins at 0:42:30)

Music from previous story continues while the new story, set in 1911, begins. This segment is done as a silent film.

Music changes, woman singing traditional song (Tsai Hsiao-yueh, 蔡小月, performing Southern Chord style music, 南管散曲, examples of her singing); Ah Mei-1 (same actress as May in Story One) sits before a mirror then stands to greet Mr. Chang (same actor as Chen in Story One). She brings him water so he can wash, she looks at him kindly.

Ah Mei-1 asks when he arrived and he says yesterday. They chat. Mr. Chang has met Mr. Liang at the docks, then was at a crowded meeting at Dong Huei Fang Restaurant. Mr. Liang is a man who had fled to Japan after the Reform Movement (1898, Japanese wiki link here) failed. Mr. Liang spoke for an hour and wrote four poems:

Our homeland is torn asunder.
Our brotherly bond is ever tighter.

Mr. Chang is eating at the restaurant. (This is perhaps a flashback.) There is a woman in the foreground singing the music we have been hearing, but we cannot see who it is at first, then we see it is Ah Mei-1. Mr. Chang listens thoughtfully.

Fade to black. Title then runs: "A Time for Freedom" (自由夢).

DVD Scene 8 (0:47:37)

Music changes: piano, romantic, sensual, slow music.

Ah Mei-1 is in front of the mirror. She asks Mr. Chang how long he will stay this time. "Five days. Then I will go to Taichung with Mr. Liang and will come back soon." He looks thoughtful; she looks like she is hiding her sadness. She combs his hair.

"Last year your son had a fever. Has he recovered?" He answers: Yes but it took two months.

Fade through black.

Mr. Chang puts on his jacket with Ah Mei-1's help and she sees him to the door. She cleans up her room. Ah Mei-1 has little to do.

DVD Scene 9 (0:51:58) ... The next day

The piano music continues, but the song is somewhat different.

Several men come to visit, on business. They want to redeem Ah Mei-2's contract. (Ah Mei-2 is played by the actress who played Haruko in Story One.) Evidently the madame asks for 300 liang. It is considered too high.

Fade through black.

Mr. Chang is in Ah Mei-1's room. Ah Mei-2 is pregnant by the heir to the Su family. Her lover is ready to take her as a concubine. However, the family offers only 200 liang. Mr. Chang says he will make up the difference. Ah Mei-1 says that in Mr. Chang's articles he is always criticizing the practice of keeping concubines. He says that is true but he feels compelled to help Ah Mei-2.

Fade through black.

Ah Mei-1 is helping Mr. Chang dress again. As he is leaving, the old madame comes out to thank him for his generosity. She says that Ah Mei-2 will thank him in person when he returns. Lingering shot of him leaving down the stairwell.

Fade through black.

Music changes slightly. Six days later, the contract is checked, the money is counted by one of the madame's courtesan's with the madame looking on. (She seems to touch the money a bit lovingly.)

DVD Scene 10 (1:00:18)

Ah Mei-1 and Ah Mei-2, the one just redeemed, are together in Ah Mei-1's room. Ah Mei-1 says that Su is an honorable man as is his father. "You will be married tomorrow and your life will change." Ah Mei-2 looks sad. Ah Mei-1 further advises that she always defer to the main wife. Be humble and never behave willfully.

Fade through black.

One month later. The hallway kerosene lamp is lit, as always.

Fade through black.

Slight change in music. Mr Chang returns to Ah Mei-1's room. Ah Mei brings water as usual. Mr. Chang explains that during his travels with Mr. Liang he has met important people. He says that China is not ready to help Taiwan free themselves from Japan for at least 30 years. Food is brought. Tea and food is carried in.

Mr. Chang takes out something from his briefcase—the 100 liang that successfully completes the sale of Ah Mei-2. Ah Mei-1 says Ah Mei-2 is truly fortunate to have found a good family. Ah Mei-1 explains to Mr. Chang that the madam has asked her (Ah Mei-1) to stay longer while the madame finds a replacement—even though the madame had promised that Ah Mei-1 could become a concubine as soon as Ah Mei-2 found someone. (Key point.) Ah Mei-1 loks at Mr. Chang, who is looking down at the food he is peeling.

Fade through black.

DVD Scene 11 (1:06:47)

The next day, a new girl is brought. This 10-year-old wanders around a bit; she comes to Ah Mei-1's room. She looks very innocent. Ah Mei-1 puts down her pipa (a stringed musical instrument) and talks with her and finds out that she is only 10. The madam inspects the 10-year-old by eye and hand (checking should, hips, buttocks) and says she has good bone structure but is a little skinny. Ah Mei-1 watches this inspection from her room, sadly. Returns to the mirror.

Fade through black.

Ah Mei-2 comes to visit, looking radiant, and is pregnant. She is there to thank Mr. Chang for his help in redeeming her. Food is brought.

Fade through black.

Ah Mei-1 and Mr. Chang are alone. She brings water, as usual. She asks if he leaves tomorrow and when he will return. He says he will help Mr. Liang with his newspaper and might return here anytime.

1:14:10—The music stops. (This is the turning point of the story.)

Ah Mei-1 says that she has something she wants to ask.

The traditional music begins again. "Last time you said that, in view of Ah Mei [-2] 's condition that you felt compelled to help her. Now that Madame is asking me to stay here longer ... I would like to know whether you have any plans for me." Mr. Change looks concerned. Ah Mei-1 understands and stands up. She cries quietly in the corner. Mr. Chan puts his hand to his face.

Fade through black.

At the restaurant, Ah Mei-1 is singing the traditional song. The customers are listening. Mr. Chang has his back to her.

DVD Scene 12 (1:17:41)

Three months later, the Wuchang Uprising. (Only the title shows in this very short scene, plus a man carrying water for tea in the hallway.)

DVD Scene 13 (1:18:03)

The young girl is being trained in singing. Ah Mei-1 listens from another room, sadly. She receives a letter. It is from Mr. Chang:

"I reached Tokyo yesterday. I have already seen Mr. Liang. We leave for Shanghai tomorrow. I saw the hall where they signed the treaty handing Taiwan over to Japan. Thinking of Mr. Liang's poem, I couldn't help shedding a tear.

'Although this place has torn my heart,
It is wrenching to leave it.
Seventeen years have passed
and the sorrowful waves still break on its shores.'"