When the Clouds Roll by (1968) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A patient's unresolved grief and a survivor's guilt unfold alongside a doctor's effort to understand two connected cases.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Love Interrupted

Xiong Su Su is distressed when her pilot lover is transferred away. Her attempt to persuade an airline manager to bring him back fails, while her family becomes concerned about her health and behavior.

Key Events

• Pilot Transferred Away — Xiong Su Su is distressed after her lover, a pilot, is transferred away. Characters: Xiong Su Su Location: Unspecified
• Appeal to Airline Manager — She offers earrings to have the pilot brought back, but the manager refuses. Characters: Xiong Su Su Location: Airline manager's office
• Family Notices Her Condition — Her family worries about her headaches and increasingly erratic behavior. Characters: Xiong Su Su, Xiong Jian Fang, Mrs Xiong Location: Xiong family home
• She Drives Off Alone — After she drives away alone, her family alerts the police and calls for help. Characters: Xiong Su Su, Xiong Jian Fang, Mrs Xiong Location: Near the Xiong family home

Care and Uncertainty

Xiong is brought into hospital care, where Dr Li Yi Fei studies her case with guidance from Dr Huang Tian Fu. Zhang Limin's guilt over the fatal crash raises the possibility that the two patients' conditions are connected.

Key Events

• Hospital Care Begins — Newly returned Dr Li Yi Fei becomes involved in her care. Characters: Xiong Su Su, Dr Li Yi Fei, Dr Huang Tian Fu Location: Hospital
• Clinical Explanation — Dr Huang explains her suspicion of others and lack of recognition that she is ill. Characters: Xiong Su Su, Dr Li Yi Fei, Dr Huang Tian Fu Location: Hospital
• Survivor's Guilt — Zhang Limin repeatedly says he killed many people in the plane crash. Characters: Zhang Limin, Dr Li Yi Fei Location: Hospital
• Cases May Be Connected — Dr Li suspects a connection between the patients, while Dr Huang urges caution. Characters: Xiong Su Su, Zhang Limin, Dr Li Yi Fei, Dr Huang Tian Fu Location: Hospital

A Growing Closeness

Xiong gradually becomes more comfortable with Dr Li, who gives her English lessons. Her family objects to their closeness, and Dr Qiu Dong Wang orders Dr Li to stop the lessons.

Key Events

• Cases May Be Connected — Dr Li suspects a connection between the patients, while Dr Huang urges caution. Characters: Xiong Su Su, Zhang Limin, Dr Li Yi Fei, Dr Huang Tian Fu Location: Hospital
• English Lessons — Xiong Su Su becomes more comfortable with Dr Li, who gives her English lessons. Characters: Xiong Su Su, Dr Li Yi Fei Location: Hospital
• Family Objects — Her closeness with Dr Li alarms her family, and Dr Qiu orders him to stop the lessons. Characters: Xiong Su Su, Dr Li Yi Fei, Dr Qiu Dong Wang Location: Hospital
• Goodbye or See You Again — They disagree over whether their separation is goodbye or simply see you again. Characters: Xiong Su Su, Dr Li Yi Fei Location: Hospital

The Crash Reconstructed

Zhang Limin explains the confrontation during the flight and the events that led to the crash. Dr Li believes his account and arranges for a report to be completed.

Key Events

• Crash Account Revealed — Zhang recounts confronting the pilot before the aircraft struck a mountain. Characters: Zhang Limin, Dr Li Yi Fei Location: Hospital
• Pilot's Relationships Explained — Zhang says the pilot was involved with his younger sister while keeping another relationship. Characters: Zhang Limin, Dr Li Yi Fei Location: Hospital
• Report and Discharge — Dr Li believes Zhang and arranges a report; Zhang is considered recovered and cleared for discharge. Characters: Zhang Limin, Dr Li Yi Fei Location: Hospital

An Unfinished Recovery

Zhang is considered recovered and cleared for discharge. Xiong remains unable to face the full truth about her lover's death, and Dr Li is pulled away from her care.

Key Events

• Report and Discharge — Dr Li believes Zhang and arranges a report; Zhang is considered recovered and cleared for discharge. Characters: Zhang Limin, Dr Li Yi Fei Location: Hospital
• Treatment Remains Unresolved — Xiong is not ready to remember the full truth, and Dr Li is pulled away from her. Characters: Xiong Su Su, Dr Li Yi Fei Location: Hospital

Story Breakdown

• Lost Pilot — Xiong Su Su struggles after her pilot lover is transferred away.
  • Transfer Distress — Xiong is distressed by her lover's transfer.
  • Failed Appeal — She offers earrings to an airline manager, who refuses to bring him back.
• Family Alarm — Xiong's family becomes concerned as her condition and behavior worsen.
  • Headaches and Behavior — Her family worries about her headaches and erratic behavior.
  • Search for Help — After she drives off alone, her family alerts the police and calls for help.
• Hospital Investigation — Dr Li Yi Fei studies Xiong's case with Dr Huang Tian Fu's guidance.
  • Clinical Explanation — Dr Huang explains Xiong's suspicion of others and lack of awareness of her illness.
  • Connected Cases — Dr Li considers whether Xiong's condition may be connected to Zhang Limin's.
• Survivor's Guilt — Zhang Limin is tormented by his belief that he caused deaths in the crash.
  • Repeated Confession — Zhang repeatedly says that he killed many people.
  • Crash Account — He describes confronting the pilot and trying to control the aircraft before it hit a mountain.
• Growing Closeness — Dr Li's lessons bring him closer to Xiong, prompting family concern.
  • English Lessons — Dr Li gives Xiong English lessons as she becomes more comfortable with him.
  • Forced Separation — Dr Qiu orders Dr Li to stop teaching her, and the pair disagree over their parting words.
• Zhang's Recovery — Dr Li accepts Zhang's account and supports the completion of a report.
  • Account Believed — Dr Li believes Zhang's explanation of the events during the flight.
  • Discharge Cleared — Zhang is considered recovered and cleared for discharge.
• Unresolved Treatment — Xiong's recovery remains incomplete as Dr Li is pulled away from her.
  • Truth Not Remembered — Xiong is not ready to remember the full truth about her lover's death.
  • Care Interrupted — Dr Li is pulled away while her treatment remains unresolved.

Directed by

Doe Ching

Key Cast

• Ching Li — Xiong Su Su
• Yang Fang — Dr Li Yi Fei
• Chang Pei-Shan — Dr Huang Tian Fu
• Violet Pan Ying-Zi — Qiu Bin Bin
• Huang Tsung-Hsun — Dr Qiu Dong Wang