The Lin Family's Shop

The story takes place in a village in Zhejiang Province in 1931, the year the Japanese invaded Manchuria. Students have started a nationwide boycott of Japanese-made products, but Shopkeeper Lin merely relabels his Japanese goods in order to stay in business. Lin must resort to every type of underhanded business practice to keep his shop afloat. When his own daughter is threatened by the advances of the chief of police, Lin decides it is better to give up - he closes down his shop and flees with the girl. But the people who really suffer are those he leaves behind. The poor widows who had entrusted their money to his shop's small bank are left totally destitute. (Moscow International Film Festival)