Little Toys
Playthings (Chinese: 小玩意; pinyin: Xiǎo wányì), also known as Little Toys or Small Toys, is a 1933 silent film directed by filmmaker Sun Yu. It is one of two films Sun Yu directed in 1933. (the other film being Daybreak). This film was released on October 10th, which is on the eve of National Day and before WWII. Sun Yu is also famously known for the films Wild Rose (1932) and Daybreak (1933). The film stars popular Chinese actress Ruan Lingyu, and was produced by the leftist film production company Lianhua Film Company. The film contains the elements of drama, melodrama, war, westernization, motherhood and sacrifice. The story follows a village toy-maker, Sister Ye, who urges a group of villagers to continue making traditional playthings despite immense competition from foreign toy factories. Synonymous to many other films made during the same time period, Playthings is a patriotic propaganda film that expresses skepticism towards China's rapid urbanization and industrialization.
Made after Japan's invasion of China, Little Toys is a "Marxist war melodrama, containing strong nationalist sentiment yet reflecting Western influences." Today, the film is recognized as one of the best Chinese films of the 20th century.
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