Tsao Yu

Vivid depiction of corrupt life of businessmen, gangsters and prositutes in 30s Chinese urban life. To me, more effective than Thunderstorm because less like western
"realist" models, though with typical bitter irony the lead characters are ruined for trying to do one decent act.

Chinese version of the typically grim "realism" of the early 20th century. Evil Chinese capitalist mine owner's shocking family secrets disastrously disclosed.