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ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE
Vienna 1931. Fanny Ehner, the daughter of a police instructor, falls in love with Ma Yunlong, a Chinese police officer who is taking part in a professional training course. Fanny?s parents oppose their relationship.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE
Original Title: AmanderenEnde der Brucke
Austria / China 2002
Director: Hu Mei
Vienna 1931. Fanny Ehner, the daughter of a police instructor, falls in love with Ma Yunlong, a Chinese police officer who is taking part in a professional training course. Fanny’s parents oppose their relationship.
But on her 18th birthday, she leaves for China to marry Yunlong against her parents’ wishes and her best friend’s advice. At the wedding Fanny realises that she has to deal with cultural differences.
The initial domestic bliss is short-lived. The changing political environment and a quarrel between Yunlong and his boss, lead to Yunlong’s resignation from his job. The family is driven to the countryside and Fanny is isolated.
Yunlong’s political past with the National Chinese Units catches up with him. He is deported to a penal camp. Fanny has to work hard for her children’s survival. Even after Yunlong’s return, their happiness is brief.
Screenplay:
Wang Zhebin
Cinematography:
Lüe Yüe
Editing:
Du Yuan
Music:
Xiaogang Ye
Production:
SK-Film, Beijing Forbidden City Co.
Principal cast:
Nina Proll, Wang Zhiweng, Susi Nicoletti, Erwin Steinhauer, Muriel Baumeister, Song Xiaoying, Wang Yuchang
Production: 35mm / colour / 105 mins
Director's bio-note:
Hu Mei was born in 1957 in northern China. She studied direction at the Beijing Film Academy together with her famous colleagues Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige.
Her film career started within the Chinese army and she achieved her artistic breakthrough with Army Nurse (1985) and Far from War (1987).
Viewership figures for her television series, The Yongzheng Dynasty (1999) broke all records. She is part of the Fifth Generation Chinese directors.
