For centuries China followed the age-old customs of women's subservience to men. Females were expected to fully obey their arranged-husbands' orders, fulfilling their family needs at home while the men were involved in the business community. Changes were afoot, however, slowly creeping into the country's culture beginning in the early 1900s. One of cinema's most well-known films reflecting the era of women's elevation in status in China was director Cai Chusheng February 1935's "New Women," starring Ruan Lingyu as a writer who is confronted with her past.
"New Women" was inspired by the Chinese actress and writer Ai Xia, whom some speculate Chusheng had been romantically involved. One of only two female scriptwriters during Chinese "Left-Wing" cinematic movement, she committed suicide by eating raw opium in 1934 after, as reflected in Cai's film, she was criticized in the press for raising money for her daughter's illness by hiring herself out for one evening. Her life became a symbol for women's emancipation in China. Chusheng's movie shows actress Ruan as Wei Ming reenacting Ai Xia's final days while she attempts to publish her first novel. The publisher of one of Wei's friend recognizes she wrote a great book, but is reluctant to publish it because of Wei's lack of any previous works. Wei's illegitimate daughter, who is raised by her poor sister, is sick and dying. The sister, for want of money, comes to Wei for help. Wei experiences the rigid and selfish attitudes of the traditional Chinese men who refuse to help her finance a cure for her daughter. She, like Ai Xia, hits drugs hard after her daughter dies. The brutal media coverage of her drug addiction empowers her to seek revenge of the men who doubled crossed her as she realizes the 'new woman' inside her.
The idea of the 'new women' in China was emerging in the early 1900s where in the coastal cities females found employment opportunities outside the house. Many were heavily recruited like Wei for their teaching skills. As each profession eventually found women working alongside men, there were others who were intimidated by the females' new position in society. "New Women" shows the adverse affects of those traditional Chinese women whom accepted their husbands' indiscretions, such as Mrs. Wang, by turning a blind eye to their husbands indiscretions to ensure their own financial security. Chusheng's film has been cited as a significant milestone in modern Chinese feminist cinema, one of the first woman-liberated films to have been made in the country.
There's a cruel irony to the "New Women's" ending with Wei's suicide and that of the actress who played her, Ruan Lingyu. When the movie was released, the tabloids were critical of the film, feeling it unfairly depicted the newspaper business as cruel and dishonest. Cai was forced to make several extensive cuts to the film. As in Ai Xia's personal life, reporters got wind of Raun"s personal love life and abusive relationships, and made a big deal of them. One month after "New Women" was released, Ruan committed suicide on March 8, 1935. The funeral of China's top movie star lasted three days, with thousands attending her miles-long funeral procession. Three women witnessing the procession committed suicide. The New York Times ranked the event "the most spectacular funeral of the century."
