# A River Flows Eastward

Author: Jin Yiming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The old film A River Flows in the Direction of the East remains as a slice of an era in the memory of at least two generations. In the long course of history, how much can human nature change after half a century of cleansing? Through an artistic act of searching for and amplifying a reference point to reflect on a segment of human history is a constant need in the process of human self-purification. Reenacting an outstanding film of the last century. Zhang Zhongliang, born into poverty, is the male servant of the prominent Wu family in Fengqiao Town. To save the virtuous and kind maid Su Fen, the two escape to Shanghai and marry. Wu Jiaqi, the third son of the Wu family, has his affections constantly fluctuating between his Japanese lover Chunzi and Su Fen, who resemble each other. When the War of Resistance against Japan breaks out, Zhang Zhongliang joins the first aid team and gets separated from Su Fen in the chaos. After wandering to Chongqing, he lives with Wang Lizhen, a woman with a vibrant appearance, and gradually transforms in the deceitful environment. Su Fen, meanwhile, struggles to survive in occupied Shanghai with her mother-in-law and son, while Wu Jiaqi silently cares for her to the best of his ability. After the war of resistance, Zhang Zhongliang returns to Shanghai as a war hero and a recipient official, moving into the mansion of He Wenyan, the cousin of Wang Lizhen, and soon becomes involved with the cunning He Wenyan. When Su Fen discovers that Zhang Zhongliang has become the man of both Wang Lizhen and He Wenyan, she loses all hope and throws herself into the Huangpu River. Overnight, Zhang Zhongliang loses the "occupied wife" Su Fen, the "war wife" Wang Lizhen, and the "recipient wife" He Wenyan, and takes his own life by gunshot.