Song of the White Orchid

Song of the White Orchid 1939

1

Song of the White Orchid was a co-production of Toho and Mantetsu, the railway that served the colonial region of Manchuria, and the first film in the Kazuo Hasegawa/Shirley Yamaguchi (Ri Koran) “Continental Trilogy.” Handsome Hasegawa (representing Japan) runs up against an impertinent Yamaguchi (representing the continent); not surprisingly, in the course of the film the woman comes around and realizes the benevolent intentions of the Japanese. In Song of the White Orchid Yamaguchi leaves Hasegawa, who plays an expatriate working for the railway, because of a misunderstanding. She joins a communist guerilla group plotting to blow up the Manchurian railway. Learning of the subterfuge that led to the misunderstanding, she renews her faith in Hasegawa—and by extension Japan—and tries to undermine the plot.

1939

My Nightingale

My Nightingale 1944

6.00

Sumida is separated from his wife and daughter when conflict erupts in Harbin. Years later, he finds that his wife passed away and her daughter was adopted by his friends at the Russian opera company.

1944

Sayon's Bell

Sayon's Bell 1943

1

Based on the true story of a 17-year old Atayal girl called Sayun Hayun from Nan'oku village, Giran district, Taihoku Prefecture (in current Taiwan) who went missing and was thought to have drowned whilst helping carry the luggage of her teacher Masaki Takita during a storm in 1938.

1943

Toyuki

Toyuki 1940

1

Shot mostly in Tokyo, this comedy depicts two Chinese tourists who have travelled from their country to Japan in order to experience the latter country.

1940

Eternity

Eternity 1943

1

The life and story of Lin Zexu and the First Opium War.

1943

Winter Jasmine

Winter Jasmine 1942

1

An inept and recently graduated Japanese man begins working in the administration of Manchuria, under the supervision of his uncle. Meanwhile, he becomes acquainted with both a Japanese and Manchurian woman.

1942

Brides of the Frontier

Brides of the Frontier 1943

1

The only surviving film directed by Tazuko Sakane. A propaganda film to encourage Japanese young woman to move to Manchuria to become the wives of Japanese emigrants, so-called brides of the Continent. Villagers played roles different from their actual lives; single women from "school of training future brides" were recruited to act in the film.

1943

皆大欢喜

皆大欢喜 1942

1

Old lady from the countryside travels to the bustling city of Xinjing to join her children in the "10th Anniversary Celebration of the Founding of Manchukuo", and then solves the conflicts within the family.

1942

国法無私

国法無私 1938

1

Drama produced by Manchukuo film assosiation. Premiered in 1938. Directed by 水江龙一 Ryuichi Mizugae. Starring 李明 Ming Li.

1938