Bittersweet showpiece: The Film Archive will host the Bitter Tears of Ruan Lingyu showcase from June 5 to July 4.

The Film Archive will host the Bitter Tears of Ruan Lingyu showcase from June 5 to July 4, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the famous Chinese actress's birthday, in collaboration with the China and Taipei Film Festivals.

An emblem of 1930s' Shanghai and the golden age of pre-war Chinese cinema, the late Ruan's life resembled the stories in many of her films.

Nine classics will be screened, with eight starring Ruan, including romantic comedy A Spray of Plum Blossoms, melodrama Goodbye, Shanghai and her last work Civil Wind.

The director's cut of Centre Stage (1992), directed by Stanley Kwan and starring Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung and Carina Lau, will be screened to review Ruan's life and films.

Veteran researcher and writer Law Kar, film scholar Shu Kei and renowned Taiwanese film scholar Peggy Chiao will discuss her tragic life and screen roles in The Life & Drama of Ruan Lingyu seminar, to be held at 5pm on June 6 at the archive. The free seminar will be conducted in Cantonese and Putonghua.

Click here for details, or call 2739 2139 or 2734 2900. Tickets are $30 at URBTIX outlets and online. Call 2734 9009 for phone reservations.