Shu Xiuwen
Shu Xiuwen | ||
---|---|---|
舒绣文 | ||
Hanyu Pinyin Shū Xiùwén | | |
Wade–Giles | Shu Hsiu-wen |
Shu Xiuwen (1915 – 17 March 1969), also
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Shu was elected to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People's Congress. However, she was severely persecuted when the Cultural Revolution began in 1966 and died in March 1969.
Shu is known for her versatility and her performances greatly influenced later generations of Chinese actors. In 2005, she was voted as one of the 100 best actors of the 100 years of Chinese cinema.
Life
Early life
Shu Xiuwen was born in
Early career
Considering her job humiliating,
Her acting experience enabled her to find work with the Jimei Song and Dance Troupe. Although the troupe folded soon afterward, through her professional connections she was able to join the Mayflower Drama Troupe led by the prominent leftist playwright Tian Han. However, the Kuomintang government disbanded the troupe for its leftist plays and arrested Shu's friend Gui Jiangong. The experience prompted her to become actively involved in the leftist movement.[2] When Tian Han formed the new Spring and Autumn Troupe, Shu Xiuwen soon joined it and became its main actress. She performed many stage plays such as Death of a Star, Seven Women in the Storm, and Killing of an Infant.[2]
Following Tian Han, Shu joined the
Wartime
When the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937, Shanghai's film studios were mostly destroyed in the three months of fighting known as the Battle of Shanghai.[4] Shu joined the mass exodus of refugees for the wartime capital Chongqing, where she worked for the government-run China Film Studio. She starred in several films such as Defend Our Land, A Good Husband, and Frontier Storm. When traveling to Inner Mongolia to shoot a film, she visited the Communist base at Yan'an and was received by Mao Zedong.[2]
From 1941 to 1946, Shu devoted herself to performing anti-Japanese and patriotic stage plays such as Thunderstorm and Sunrise by the famous playwright Cao Yu.[2] Her acting skills established her reputation as one of China's "Four Great Actresses" of the time, together with Bai Yang, Qin Yi, and Zhang Ruifang.[2][5]
Shu returned to Shanghai after the war ended in 1945. She starred in several acclaimed films, including Killer, Weakness, Your Name Is Woman, and the most celebrated film of her career The Spring River Flows East.[2][1] In 1948 and 1949, during the Chinese Civil War, Shu went to Hong Kong and starred in Flowers Fall in Spring City, Way of Love, and Wild Fire, Spring Wind.[2]
Communist China
After the establishment of the
Shu was elected to the 1st Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the 2nd and 3rd National People's Congress, the executive committee of the All-China Women's Federation, and the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. She also served as managing director of the China Theatre Association and the China Film Association.[1]
Like many film and drama workers, Shu Xiuwen was severely persecuted when the Cultural Revolution began in 1966. She did not survive the persecution and died on 17 March 1969 at age 54.[2]
Legacy
Shu Xiuwen is remembered as one of the greatest actresses of her era, best known for her versatility. She was able to portray a wide range of roles both in film and on stage, including a rural woman forced to kill her newborn child because of abject poverty (Killing of an Infant), a naive but kind girl (Killer), and a polished but cruel social butterfly (The Spring River Flows East). In Flowers Fall in Spring City, she played two very different roles: a poor rural woman and her daughter who had been brought up in affluence in the big city.[2] Her performances greatly influenced later generations of Chinese actors.[1]
In 2005, Shu was voted as one of the 100 best actors of the 100 years of Chinese cinema.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Wang, Mable (28 June 2015). "Shu Xiuwen". All-China Women's Federation.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-315-49924-6.
- ^ 第一个女配音演员:舒绣文 (in Chinese). China.com.cn. 8 October 2008.
- ISBN 978-0-8047-4518-5.
- ^ 中国影剧界四大名旦. CNKI (in Chinese). Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- ^ 中国电影百年百位优秀演员 [100 Best Actors of the 100 Years of Chinese Cinema]. Sina (in Chinese). 13 November 2005.