Poetry. Thoughts. Reminiscence. Commentary: Movie Review - [潘金蓮之前世今生] [Reincarnation of Golden Lotus] [1989]

The Cultural Revolution scene of 潘金蓮之前世今生 , where counter-revolutionaries were condemned and this ancient Chinese erotic literature [金瓶梅], amongst other books were destroyed by the communists.

Jinlian (aka Lotus), played by Joey Wang Tzu Hsien. Jinlian married a wealthy man (who had an uncanny physical resemblance to Wu Dalang) in her "second life" but was still haunted by her disturbing past.

潘金蓮之前世今生 (Reincarnation of Golden Lotus) [1989] - My views and commentary on this movie

I watched this movie a few months back. One may think that this is just another banal Hong Kong movie filmed in the 1980s (the "golden" era of HK film industry), with an overrated box office success. However, I think it is quite a creative masterpiece. The storyline of this movie is an imaginative extension of the ancient Chinese novel protagonist, 潘金蓮 / Pan Jin Lian's second life. I think Joey did a good job portraying this infamous and beautiful femme fatale character. She's one of my favourite actresses and I do like her "bad-girl" persona in many films she starred. Perhaps the cinematography could be a lot better. But hey... this was filmed in 1989.

This movie prompted me to do a little amateurish micro research on the character 潘金蓮 ("Jinlian"), an infamous seductress in the erotic/naturalistic Chinese novel, 金瓶梅 ("Jin Ping Mei"), based in the Song Dynasty, written in the Ming Dynasty, by a dubious author known by his pseudonym, Lanling Xiaoxiao Sheng (蘭陵笑笑生), "The Scoffing Scholar of Lanling". I did a further micro research and realised that the characters Jinlian, Wu Song, Wu Dalang & Ximen Qing belong to the famous Chinese Literature, 水滸傳 (Shui Hu Zhuan), translated in English as Water Margin. However, Jinlian is minor character in Water Margin. I remembered reading briefly about Wu Song when I was in secondary school. Wu Song was featured in one of the chapters of my Chinese textbook, and the title of it was "Wu Song the Tiger Slayer". Indeed Jin Ping Mei is a spin off from Water Margin. I've never read Water Margin. I have an impression that Water Margin is one of those masculine themes in ancient Chinese Literature, as compared to Red Chamber.

Jin Ping Mei (translated as "Plum in a Golden Vase") on the other hand, is known for its erotic theme, known as a pornographic novel during the Ming Dynasty. I've always thought that people living during the Ming Dynasty are known for being conservative, industrious and scholarly. They've invented canons, constructed the Forbidden City (superseded by the Qing Dynasty), and are well-verse in areas such as geometry and architecture, as prevalent in their symmetrical garments, head-dress and intricate furniture. The earlier publications of Jin Ping Mei were in hand-written calligraphy text. The 1st block-print book publication of Jin Ping Mei was only released in 1610. Alright, I shall begin the summarised synopsis of the movie shortly.

The film 潘金蓮之前世今生 is adapted from a novel written by Lilian Lee 李碧華 (a renown Hong Kong writer). In the beginning of the movie, set in the Song dynasty, the spirit of the deceased Pan Jinlian (played by Joey) was shown in hell, walking on a chain with her bound feet. Jinlian recalled how she had been violated by men during her lifetime and told the creepy old lady in hell that she wanted to take revenge in her next life.

The next scene was shown in Shanghai during the Cultural Revolution.Young Shan Yulian (reincarnation of Pan Jinlian) ("Lotus") was shown dancing ballet with her other school mates to the tune of The Red Detachment Women. During their break time, Lotus was seen untying her ballet shoes and sub-consciously singing an ancient song whilst she reminisce tying her bound feet in silk during her past life. I think the little girl who cameo-ed as Jinlian is really adorable. This nostalgic moment was then interrupted by her schoolmate who haughtily asked her, "What counter-revolutionary song are you singing?" Lotus was then interrupted by a crowd of angry communists shouting, "革命无罪/造反有理!" Lotus ran towards the commotion and she found the book 金瓶梅 being burned on the floor amongst other books and counter-revolutionary objects. A man yelled "I'm not a counter-revolutionary" from the 2nd-storey and landed on the floor where the book was laid with a loud thud.

The next scene shows Lotus as an enchanting teenager (played by Joey) who is a lead ballet dancer. Her lecherous head of the dance troupe attempted to rape her in his office and when she resisted him, he accused her of being a counter-revolutionary who tried to seduce him. Lotus was then expelled from the dance troupe and led a proletariat life working in shoe factory. She developed a crush on her co-worker, Wu Long (reincarnation of Wu Song, Jianlian's love interest then). Being attentive to his needs, Lotus bought Long a pair of shoes. She was then accused of stealing the shoes and wasting state's resources for her own interest. Long, being a pretentious, self-righteous coward (polar opposite from the chivalrous Wu Song), handed the shoes to his fellow comrade and claimed that he never accepted the gift and did nothing to stop the unreasonable co-workers from publicly humiliating Lotus and even slapped her to fulfill the co-workers' angst. He did it reluctantly though, to save his ass. Lotus was deeply hurt and felt betrayed.

Years later in the 1980s, Lotus was seen selling watermelons in Guangzhou. She met a wealthy, unattractive Hongkonger, Wu Da (played by Eric Tsang), who was mesmerised by her beauty and proposed to marry her. Though Lotus was initially reluctant, she eventually agreed to marry him so that he can take her away from the village resided by uncouth villagers who despised her.

Coincidentally, Wu Long their driver, is a relative of Wu Da, whom he calls "Brother". There were occasional sparks entailing guilt between Lotus and Long. Lotus met Simon, a notorious playboy (reincarnation of Ximen Qing), at a disco and began an affair with him since she felt neglected by Long and wasn't attracted to her husband. She continued experiencing strange flashbacks of her past life; some epic scenes include the fireworks and the one where Pan Jinlian & Ximen Qing were flirting on the swing under the grapevine.

There is a slight twist in the fate of the characters in both 金瓶梅 and 潘金蓮之前世今生. Contrary to the former, Wu Da did not die in the latter. Overall, the story 潘金蓮之前世今生 ("Reincarnation of Golden Lotus") is engaging. Major themes in this story include: love, lust, deja vu, reincarnation, revenge, grievances, adultery, femme fatale, a beauty's curse, tragic hero and perhaps, an unbroken vicious cycle. Both protagonists, Lotus and Long died in a car crash at the end of the movie. Does this put an end to all past grievances? Is there really such a thing as 前世今生? A pauper become a successful politician or businessman in his next life. A concubine might become a prostitute in her next life. A hero might turn into a coward in his next life. I believe we only live once and can only repay others during our lifetime. Reincarnation may be an imagination for those who believe that they owe too much to others whom they can't afford to repay during their lifetime...

Jin Ping Mei's fireworks scene

Lotus attending her cosmetology class

The scene where Pan Jinlian and Ximen Qing were flirting on a swing under a grapevine.

Lotus's 'Ancient Beauty' photography by Simon in the movie. This reminds me of her character as Xiao Qian in 'A Chinese Ghost Story', starring Leslie Cheung & Joey Wong.