Even from this one film, it's obvious what a loss the death of Ruan Ling-yu was to Chinese, and world, cinema. As a woman working as a prostitute so she can raise and educate her young son, she gives an incredibly nuanced and detailed performance, which feels years ahead of its time.
Though there is no dialogue (she never made a sound film) every emotion and moment - the contempt at her gambling layabout husband, the joy she takes in…