Starring Ivy Ling Po and Betty Loh Ti, The Love Eterne was a huge hit in both Hong Kong and Taiwan in the 1960s, and remains the most beloved cinematographic adaptation of the classic Chinese story Butterfly Flowers. Defying tradition, the female protagonist Yingtai impersonates a man to attend school, only to fall hopelessly in love with her male classmate Shanbo. The romantic spirit, rebellious nature, and tragic end of the two young star-crossed lovers explain the story’s enduring popularity. With its dress-up games, gender confusion and role reversals, The Love Eterne delivers plenty of thrills to the audience. In one memorable segment during which Shanbo walks 18 miles with Yingtai to send off his sworn brother, audiences are literally glued to their seats crying with laughter at Shanbo’s failure to grasp the countless hints given by Yingtai. Played by actress Ivy Ling Po, the Shanbo character in the Shaw Brothers’ version of The Love Eterne further added to the excitement due to the confusion surrounding her gender.
Committed to building long-term and sustainable dialogue with our visitors, Hong Kong cultural critics, and intellectuals, Art Film Hour shows a selection of moving image work following a thematic every season. Art Film Hour is a sub-programme of Art After Hours, an event series presented by Tai Kwun Contemporary that will talk with you, sing with you, and strive to always show you something new. Art After Hours welcomes all visitors to experience contemporary art in Hong Kong live. Artists, writers, public intellectuals, and curators are invited to engage in talks, performances, and screenings.
