THE ORPHAN OF THE STORM (1929) Suxin Wu, Huimin Zhang & Langen Han | Drama |Cinema Gem

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Xue Zhong Gu Chu (English: An Orphan in the Snow) is a 1929 Chinese silent drama film directed and written by Zhang Huimin, produced by the Shanghai Shadow Play Company. The film tells the story of Hu Chunmei, a young woman trapped in an arranged marriage to a mentally challenged husband and subjected to cruelty by her in-laws. Escaping into the winter night, she is rescued by a wealthy young man, Yang Dapeng, but soon finds herself cast out again and ultimately imprisoned by her former in-laws—until Yang rescues her in a dramatic snowy climax.

Blending melodrama with social commentary, the film reflects late-1920s Shanghai cinema’s focus on the struggles of women in a rigidly patriarchal society. Its emotional storytelling, popular cast—including Wang Renmei and Zhang Zhiyun—and snowy rural settings made it a standout among Chinese silent features of the time.

Synopsis:

The story centers on Hu Chunmei, a young woman forced into marriage with an apparently simple-minded man she does not love. She suffers mistreatment from her in-laws and flees one night, intending to end her life. Instead, she’s rescued by a wealthy young man, Yang Dapeng, who shelters her—but his father expels her after she repeatedly makes mistakes. Collapsing in the snow, Hu Chunmei is later discovered bound in a secret room by her in-laws. Yang searches for her and ultimately rescues her from her frozen confinement.

Cast & Crew:

Director: Zhang Huimin (张惠民)
Writer: Zhang Huimin (张惠民)
Cinematography: (Not clearly credited in surviving records)
Production company: Shanghai Shadow Play Company (上海影戏公司)

Wang Renmei (王人美)
Zhang Zhiyun (张织云)
Tang Tianxiu (汤天秀)
Gao Zhanfei (高占非)
Wang Cilong (王次龙)