
Three women fled to Shanghai due to the war and rented a room in the back of a building. They met four homeless men, who, coincidentally, lived next door, and the seven became friends. When the landlord cut off the electricity to a tenant who couldn't pay their rent, the seven intervened and learned that the man of the house was serving in the army, leaving only the invulnerables in the family. To help them, the seven performed an open-air play in the city center square to raise funds.
Directed by Wu Cun, A New Hell leans on a strong ensemble — Xuan Zhou, Shu Shi, Bai Yan — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1939.
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A movie fan escapes from a labour camp during the Chinese Cultural Revolution and strikes up a relationship with a homeless female vagabond.
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