The Unforgettable Character《在水一方》 is a 1975 Taiwanese romantic drama film directed by Chang Mei-chun and written by Chiung Yao(琼瑶).

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. (May 2012)

Quick Facts The Unforgettable Character, Chinese ...

The Unforgettable Character
video cover
Chinese	在水一方
Literal meaning	On One Side of the Water
Hanyu Pinyin	Zài Shuǐ Yī Fāng
Directed by	Chang Mei-chun
Written by	Chiung Yao
Produced by	Chang Jen-dao
Starring	Brigitte Lin Chin Han Tien Niu Ku Ming-lun
Cinematography	Chen Jung-shu
Music by	Lin Chia-ching
Production company	United Cine-Production Enterprises
Release date	1975 (1975)
Running time	98 minutes
Country	Taiwan
Language	Mandarin

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After the death of her parents, Hsiao-shuang begins to live with the Chu family in Taipei, who treat her like their own child. The Chu's oldest child Shih-yao deeply loves her, but being crippled he's hesitant to confess his love. Hsiao-shuang quickly falls in love with the eloquent and charismatic wannabe writer Yu-wen, but their marriage is far from blissful. Yu-wen, an irresponsible dreamer and impractical perfectionist, fails to write anything and frequently vents his frustration on Hsiao-shuang. Hsiao-shuang tries her hardest to support him and the family even during her pregnancy. Shih-yao helps Hsiao-shuang sell her songs, but that further angers Yu-wen, now addicted to gambling. After Yu-wen forcefully grabs a cherished jade from her to gamble away, Hsiao-shuang has a miscarriage and files for divorce. Hoping to encourage him, she still promises him that she will get back with him if he comes back with a finished work. Years later, when news of Yu-wen's terminal illness reaches Hsiao-shuang, she immediately arrives at his place in southern Taiwan only to find him dying with his book already completed. After his death, Shih-yao presents Hsiao-shuang a gift, which turns out to be the jade Yu-wen lost 4 years ago. Hsiao-shuang realizes Shih-yao still loves her after all these years.

• Brigitte Lin as Tu Hsiao-shuang, a beautiful and musically gifted 18-year-old orphan
• Han Chiang as Chu Chih-chien, a former friend of Hsiao-shuang's late father
• Lu Pi-yun [zh] as Chu Chih-chien's kind mother
• Chang Ping-yu as Hsin-pei, Chu Chih-chien's wife
• Ku Ming-lun as Shih-yao, Chu Chih-chien's oldest child, a 29-year-old introverted and passionate television producer
• Chen Lu-shan as Shih-ching, Chu Chih-chien's second child
• Chen Yu-ching as Lee Chien, Shih-ching's husband
• Tien Niu as Shih-hui, Chu Chih-chien's youngest child, an outgoing and enthusiastic 19-year-old student
• Yeh Ming-te as Yu-nung, Shih-hui's boyfriend
• Chin Han as Lu Yu-wen, Yu-nung's pal from the military who aspires to win the Nobel Prize in Literature

Zai shui yifang (在水一方; zài shuǐ yīfāng) is a 1975 Mandarin album, released by Kolin Records (歌林). The songs on A-side are sung by Chiang Lei (江蕾) and those on B-side by Frankie Kao (高凌風).

"Zai shui yifang", sometimes translated "On the Other Side of the Water",^[1] and "Ni zenme shuo" (你怎麼說) were later covered by other singers, including Teresa Teng in her 1980 album of a similar name.

Lyrics were written by Chiung Yao, and music was composed by Lin Chia-ching (林家慶), unless otherwise. Only songs that are listed as theme songs and instrumental are heard in the film.