Garden of Repose (1964)

Garden of Repose 1964 / 故園春夢 1964 / Gu Yuan Chun Meng , Gu Yun Cheun Mung , 故园春梦

Yang Meng Chi is a spoiled, rich do-nothing whose habit of smoking opium has cost him his entire fortune and the family mansion, the Garden of Repose, now due to be sold to Yao Guo Dong. Fearing that Yao’s spoiled and unruly son Siao Fu will follow in Yang’s footsteps, Yao’s stepwife, Wan Zhao Hua, tries to instil discipline in the child but her efforts are undermined by the child’s indulging and protective father and grandmother. Unable to reform himself despite his own son’s chastisement, Yang leaves home to lead a reclusive life in a destitute temple, only helped out by his filial daughter Han’er. The poverty-stricken Yang is drafted into the army, and tragedy ensues. (Source: Letterboxd) ~~ Adapted from the novella ‟A Garden of Repose‟ (憩园,) by Ba Jin (巴金).