The Young Ones (traditional Chinese: 彩雲飛; simplified Chinese: 彩云飞; pinyin: Cǎiyún Fēi; lit. 'flying rosy clouds') is a 1973 Taiwanese romantic drama film, spoken in Mandarin. It was directed by Li Hsing (Lee Hsing) and adapted into a screenplay by Chang Yung-hsiang from the novel of the same Chinese name by the renowned Taiwanese romance novelist Chiung Yao. The film stars Chen Chen and Alan Tang Kwong-Wing, with music conducted by Tso Hung-yuan.
Plot
Meng Yun Lao, a college student originally from Hong Kong, stays at the home of family friends in Taipei and falls in love with their daughter, Hai Ni. Hai Ni is born with a serious heart defect. When she learns that Yun Lao is planning to return to Hong Kong, she suffers from depression and dies. Yun Lao lives in despair until he meets a pop singer named Hsiao Mei, who looks exactly like Hai Ni, leading to a second chance at love.
Cast
- Chen Chen as Hai Ni / Hsiao Mei
- Alan Tang Kwong-Wing as Meng Yun Lao
- Shao-Ching Chou
- Bi-Hui Fu
- Lan Chi
Production and Release
The film was released on June 30, 1973, in Taiwan. It was a major popular success across Southeast Asia, further developing the melodramatic tonality of a love story that Chiung Yao's works were known for. The film is often described as an Asian counterpart to the American film Love Story (1970), though it offers a different ending.
Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack, also titled The Young Ones (彩雲飛), was released in 1973 by Life Records. It features performances by Teresa Teng, You Ya, and Wan Sha-lang. All songs were composed by Koo Yue. Notable tracks include "Thousand Words" (千言萬語) and "How Can I Leave You?" (我怎能離開你), both performed by Teresa Teng, which became enduring classics in Mandarin popular music. These songs were later re-recorded by Teresa Teng for her 1977 album Greatest Hits and have been covered by numerous other artists.
Legacy
Chiung Yao's novels Caiyun Fei and Hai'ou Fei Chu (海鷗飛處) were later adapted together into a 1980s television series titled Hai'ou fei chu caiyun fei (海鷗飛處彩雲飛; English: Seagulls Soaring In Iridescent Clouds). The film remains a notable example of the romantic melodrama genre that dominated Taiwanese cinema in the 1970s.
