A Maid's Bitter Story (1949): Besetzung, Handlung & Streaming

Released in 1949, A Maid's Bitter Story is a drama and horror film directed by Weibang Ma-Xu, running about 108 minutes.

What it’s about. Nurse Lin is hired by a wealthy family to care for Mr. Kao, who has lost his mind since his daughter, Ling Kuan, died. As Lin resembles Ling Kuan, her nanny asks Lin to impersonate her to help Mr. Kao recover, which works well. Lin then uncovers a secret: Ling Kuan had loved a music teacher, Qiufan, but her cousin, Yiu Tong, envious of Mr. Kao’s wealth, slandered Qiufan. One night, Yiu Tong attacked Qiufan and attempted to assault Ling Kuan, accidentally killing her. To cover up the crime, he staged her death as a suicide. Later, Nurse Lin and Qiufan, pretending to be ghosts, trick Yiu Tong into confessing. In a panic, Yiu Tong escapes, but his mistress Huigu causes a fire that kills them both. Disheartened by the truth and his burning home, Mr. Kao walks into the flames.

Who’s in it. A Maid's Bitter Story stars Gu Yelu, Wang Danfeng, Hung Po and Eryi Gu, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, A Maid's Bitter Story sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch A Maid's Bitter Story page.

If you liked it. Fans of A Maid's Bitter Story tend to enjoy Die Verurteilten, Der Pate, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.