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The Price of Peace

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The Price of Peace
Title card
和平的代价
GenrePeriod drama
Written byAng Eng Tee
Chong Liang Sin
Guo Yude
Directed byLoo Yin Kam
StarringRayson Tan
Xiang Yun
Chen Shucheng
Jacintha Abisheganaden
James Lye
Lina Ng
Christopher Lee
Ivy Lee
Carole Lin
Ryan Choo
Opening themeThe Price of Peace (和平的代价) performed by Sebastian Tan (drama) and Christopher Lee (ending)
Country of originSingapore
Original languagesMandarin
English (dub)
No. of episodes32
Production
ProducersKok Len Shoong
Au Yuk Sing
Running time45 minutes per episode
Original release
NetworkTCS Eighth Frequency
TCS Fifth Frequency
Release30 June (1997-06-30) –
19 August 1997 (1997-08-19)
Related
In Pursuit of Peace (2001)
A War Diary (2001)
The Price of Peace
Traditional Chinese和平的代價
Simplified Chinese和平的代价
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHépíng De Dàijià

The Price of Peace is a Singaporean television drama set in Japanese-occupied Singapore during World War II. It starred Rayson Tan, Xiang Yun, Chen Shucheng, Jacintha Abisheganaden, James Lye, Lina Ng, Christopher Lee, Ivy Lee, Carole Lin and Ryan Choo. The series is based on a 1995 book of the same title (published by Asiapac Books), which contains numerous first-hand accounts of war veterans and eyewitnesses.

It was first aired on Television Corporation of Singapore's (TCS) Channel 8 on 30 June 1997. The drama was then dubbed in English and then broadcast on TCS's Channel 5 in 1999. The drama has been rerun on MediaCorp Channel 8 several times since its premiere

Starting 1 August 2020, it was made available for streaming on Netflix along with over 100 Singapore-made films and series.[1] The whole series is also currently viewable via Mediacorp's official streaming website meWATCH in solely the region of Singapore, in addition to its official YouTube channel .[2]

Plot

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Outline

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The plot is divided into seven parts, each focusing on distinct themes and events.

# Title Episodes Description
1 Unity in Adversity
风雨同舟
1–13 This part introduces Japanese aggression in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War and depicts the major relief efforts undertaken by the Chinese community in Singapore and Malaya under Tan Kah Kee's leadership. Some featured historical events include the workers' strike at the Dungun tin mine and the Burma Road recruitment drive.
2 Eve of the Storm - 1941
暴风前夕 - 一九四一年
13–18 This part depicts escalating tensions in Singapore prior to the Japanese invasion. Some featured historical events include the establishment of air raid precautions in Singapore.
3 Defending Singapore
保卫新加坡
18–23 This part depicts the Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore. Some featured historical events include the establishment of the Overseas Chinese Mobilisation Council and the Battle of Singapore.
4 Mass Screening
大检证
23–25 This part depicts the Sook Ching Massacre and Lim Bo Seng's establishment of a guerrilla network under Force 136.
5 Lim Bo Seng and Force 136
林谋盛与一三六部队
26–29 This part depicts Force 136's espionage activities in Malaya and the heroic deeds of Elizabeth Choy, along with a glimpse of daily life in Japanese-occupied Singapore.
6 Lim Bo Seng's Death
林谋盛之死
29–32 This part depicts Lim Bo Seng's capture and death at the hands of the Japanese, and the heroic deeds of Sybil Kathigasu.
7 The Price of Peace
和平的代价
32 This concluding segment depicts the Japanese surrender and the honouring of Lim Bo Seng.

Synopsis

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On 7 July 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident sparks off the Second Sino-Japanese War as Japan launches a full invasion on China. Dida Cheng, a deserter from the Chinese army, flees to Malaya, where he meets Cuicui, a Chinese opera actress, and Hideko, a Japanese woman. The three of them are drawn into a complex love triangle. Xie Guomin, an anti-Japanese activist, and Zhou Wenlong, the asthmatic son of a tailor, both fall in love with the porridge vendor Wang Qiumei. After Wang is publicly humiliated by an evil businessman, she is saved by Zhou and decides to marry him. However, she is already secretly pregnant with Xie's child. Their relationships become very strained.

After the Japanese occupied Singapore in 1942, the Sook Ching Massacre takes place when thousands of Chinese deemed to be anti-Japanese activists are rounded up and executed. Following his arrest by the Kempeitai, Xie Guomin becomes a hanjian and informer after succumbing to the enemy under torture. On the other hand, Dida Cheng becomes a resistance fighter and an ally of Force 136, and he continues to fight the Japanese invaders to liberate Singapore.

Historical figures such as the war heroes Lim Bo Seng, Elizabeth Choy and Sybil Kathigasu, the philanthropist Tan Kah Kee, as well as notorious Japanese military figures such as Ishibe Toshiro and Yoshimura Ekio, are also featured as semi-fictional characters in the drama.

Cast

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Main cast

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Other cast

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  • Chen Guohua as Zhang Ada
  • Hong Huifang as Wang Jinfeng[3]
  • Brandon Wong as Fang Qinghua
  • Ken Tay as Zhou Ren
  • Chunyu Shanshan as Miura Kiyoe
  • Guo Yikai as Ishibe Toshiro
  • Wang Jinlong as Yoshimura Ekio
  • Wang Kangwei as Zhuang Huiquan
  • Xu Bing as Gan Choo Neo (Yan Zhuniang)
  • Yang Yue as Konoe
  • Li Shuyi as Ji Qiuxiang

Music

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The opening theme song, which shares the same title as the series, was sung in Mandarin by Sebastian Tan (Chen Ruibiao). The main theme of the 1997 Hong Kong film The Soong Sisters and Shanghai Grand is also extensively used in the series.

Filming locations

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The series was shot on location in Singapore at the now-defunct TV World in Tuas, Tan Teck Guan Building, Danish Seamen's Church, St. Andrew's School, Chung Cheng High School (Main), The Chinese High School, and HQ Tanglin Barracks (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building), among others. Extensive filming was also done in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Accolades

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Year Ceremony Award Nominee Result Ref
1997 Star Awards Best Actor Christopher Lee Won
James Lye Nominated
Best Actress Carole Lin Won
Best Supporting Actress Hong Huifang Won
Best Supporting Actor Chen Guohua 陈国华 Nominated
Chen Shucheng Nominated
Best Drama Serial Won
Best Theme Song 和平的代價 by Sebastian Tan Won

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Price of Peace". Netflix. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  2. ^ "The Price of Peace". meWATCH. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Stars Of The Price Of Peace Look Back At James Lye's Iconic Shirtless Scene & Are As Impressed As Ever". 8days. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
[edit]
Preceded by
Tofu Street
1996
Star Awards for Best Drama Serial
The Price of Peace
1997
Succeeded by
Stand by Me
1998