Cinema
The Adventures of Sanmao the Waif
三毛流浪記
Zhao Ming and Yan Gong · 1949
Synopsis
Sanmao, a homeless orphan in old Shanghai, picks up cigarette butts, sells newspapers, pushes carts, never getting enough to eat. He joins a gang of street children who hand their earnings over to a small-time boss; the police drive them out of the Children's Day parade. A big boss makes him a pickpocket, but he returns a stolen wallet and spends three days in prison. For lack of anything better, he sells himself to a rich woman who wants a son: he is renamed and trained in good manners.
Context
Zhang Leping had created Sanmao around 1935 for the Shen Bao, and had been publishing a new version of it in the Da Gong Bao since July 1947. Yang Hansheng, who wrote the screenplay, and Chen Baichen proposed the film to Kunlun in early 1948, according to Il Cinema Ritrovato. Kuomintang censorship banned it; it was authorised only after the People's Army entered Shanghai, with a new ending added on the advice of Xia Yan. It was released in December 1949, was reissued in 1958 and 1980, and was restored in 4K in 2019. A copy is held at the CNC.
Who it is for
A film of one hour ten to one and a half hours depending on the copy, often funny; a version with English subtitles is online.
Prizes and reception
Shown at Cannes in 1981 and awarded prizes at Figueira da Foz and Giffoni, it enjoyed a vogue abroad.
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