Li Di Cheng Fo (1925) 立地成佛 (Repentance)
Tianyi. Silent. 9 reels. Genre: Premiered October 22, 1925 at the Palace Theater. Direction: Shao Zuiweng. Screenplay: Shao Cunren, Gao Lihen. Titles: Zheng Yaofeng, Zhao Tieqian. Cinematography: Xu Shaoyu. Principal cast: Fu Qiusheng (the warlord), Zhou Kongkong (the eminent monk), Zhang Dagong (the warlord's son). Also: Wu Suxin.
[left and right, two stills from 'Repentance'. Wu Suxin is the young woman in both pictures, but sources do not identify the other actors, or any details as to what is happening in these scenes. Click on images to enlarge.]
A ruthless warlord uses his troops to greedily plunder the region he controls,
causing widespread suffering to the common people. His son is even more savage and ruthless, committing numerous atrocities in a reign of terror. One day, as the son is sadistically amusing himself by torturing some civilians, a man who can bear it no more stands up to the son and kills him, and then is himself slain by the warlord in retaliation. Soon afterwards, the grieving warlord happens to meet an eminent itinerant monk who is passing through the capital, and the latter explains to him the Five Precepts of Buddhism (do not kill; do not steal; do not engage in sexual misconduct; do not lie; do not drink intoxicants). With enlightenment, the warlord involves himself in religious studies and begins to lose his bitterness and hatred over his son's death. Deeply remorseful for his past actions, he takes a leave from his position and goes out among the people to build up the area. He contributes much to the public welfare while also learning of the common people. He grows to love them so much he dismisses his wife and concubines, abandons his mansion and riches, shaves his head and goes into the mountains to spend the rest of his life as a Buddhist monk serving the people.
Comment: Although the Shao (later Shaw) Brothers would become a family name synonymous with action and swordsman films, during their Shanghai Tianyi studio days, their productions often centered on Buddhist precepts and values. This is one example of that.
