The Arch
Singapore Premiere
T'ang Shushuen Hong Kong 1968 96 min PG
An attractive captain awakens the yearning for love in a widow and her daughter in this retelling of a Ming Dynasty folktale.
Shot in striking black and white, The Arch paints an intimate portrait of Madam Tung, living with her frail mother and vivacious daughter Wei-ling in a remote village. While waiting for imperial approval to have an arch built to honour her virtue, her life is disrupted by the arrival of Captain Yang, whose charm draws both mother and daughter, leading to slowly-growing tension that reaches a feverish climax.
With a team that includes cinematographer Subrata Mitra, Satyajit Ray’s longtime creative partner, and documentary filmmaker Les Blank, The Arch has a notable variety of experimental techniques. Using montage, zooms and superimpositions, it conveys the psychological states of a woman caught between desire and duty.
Synopsis Writer: Gabriel Goh
2 Dec, Tue 4:30PM / 96 min
Oldham Theatre
AT THE FEST!
All screenings are on a free seating, first-come, first-served basis. We kindly ask all ticket holders to arrive on time. Latecomers may not be guaranteed entry.
RUSH QUEUE:
For last-minute attendees, good news. Our Rush Queue is back this year!
The Arch
董夫人
T'ang Shushuen
Hong Kong
1968
Mandarin
96 min
PG
Singapore Premiere
T'ang Shushuen
T’ang Shushuen is considered Hong Kong’s first female film director. Her debut feature The Arch was the first film made outside the industry and independently released in Hong Kong. Since her debut, T’ang has made three more films: China Behind (1974), Sup Sap Bup Dup (1975), and The Hong Kong Tycoon (1979). The 4K restoration of The Arch premiered at Cannes Classics in 2025.
This 4K restoration of The Arch is made possible by the support of CHANEL, M+’s Major Partner.
Lisa Lu,
Roy Chiao,
Hilda Chou
T’ang Shushuen
