EIGHTEEN SPRINGS is a sumptuous period film with epic yet personal touches, and is perhaps Ann Hui′s most accomplished film to date. Set in Shanghai in the 30s, the film is based on a novel by Eileen Chang, one of the most famous and repected writers in Chinese literature and a popular source for many of Hong Kong′s leading directors. Hui has created a rich and restrained adaption of Chang′s bittersweet and tragic love stroy of two young lovers. Gu Manzhen( Wu Chien-Lien ) works in an office to support her family after her father′s death. Shen Shizhun (Leon Lai) also works there along with then boyfriend of Manzhen. The two are fated to fall in love, however, and are soon drawn into a romance, and it seems, marriage and happiness. But life and family matters prove too complicated for the lovers to overcome. Shizsun′s father falls ill and the two postpone marriage until matters can be sorted out. Manzhen′s older sister, Manlu (Anita Mui), a former high class prostitute and now a concubine of businessman Zhu Hongkai (Ge You), is still bitter at having had to sell her body and forego college to suport her family. She betrays ger sister by luring ger to be raped by Hongkai, and Manzhen becomes pregnant. Manzhen tries to write a letter to Shizhun but the letter never arrives. Shizhun loses contact and marries the daugher of a rich family. Years later, the two meet and discover that if only the page had turned slightly, everything would be different. Add to the tragic story the restrained but lush cinematography and sumptuous period design that Hui achieves and you have in Einghteen Springs a most memorable film.