Movie spotlight
Legend of the White Snake
Based on the reincarnation theory of Buddhism, Heo Sun rescued a little white snake. Afterwards, a thousand-year-old white snake comes out to watch the May Festival when he discovers Heo Sun living in poverty. In order to thank him, the white snake takes the form of the maiden, Baek-ryang, and marries him, making a wealthy life for them. One day, the spiritual Buddhist priest Mo-san tells Heo Sun that Baek-ryang is a ghost. He tells him how to get rid of the woman but when he finds out that Baek-ryang is pregnant, he decides to wait a year. On the baby's 100th day celebration, Baek-ryang is buried in the gourd that Mo-san has made and she is unable to do any more magic.
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Plot Summary
A young scholar falls deeply in love with a beautiful woman he meets by a lake, unaware that she is a thousand-year-old white snake spirit. Their romance blossoms, but it attracts the attention of a powerful Buddhist monk who seeks to banish the snake spirit back to her true form. The scholar must choose between his love and the monk's intervention.
Critical Reception
The 1978 'Legend of the White Snake' is a lesser-known cinematic adaptation of a classic Chinese folktale. While it may not have achieved widespread international fame like later iterations, it is appreciated by those familiar with the story for its earnest portrayal of the central romance and its visual interpretations of the fantasy elements. Audience reception is generally positive among fans of Chinese folklore and fantasy films, though critical analysis is sparse.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its romantic and fantastical storytelling.
Appreciated for its visual depiction of the legend.
Seen as a faithful, if less spectacular, adaptation.
Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews for this particular 1978 film is not readily available, making it difficult to summarize audience sentiment.
Fun Fact
This 1978 film is one of many adaptations of the famous Chinese folktale, which has been retold in numerous operas, novels, television series, and films over centuries.
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