The King of Masks

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Awards

Canberra International Film Festival 1997 - Won - Audience Award

Carrousel International du Film 1997 - Won - Best actor

Carrousel International du Film 1997 - Won - Best Actress

Carrousel International du Film 1997 - Won - Best Film

Canberra International Film Festival 1997 - Won - Audience Award

Carrousel International du Film 1997 - Won - Best actor

Carrousel International du Film 1997 - Won - Best Actress

Carrousel International du Film 1997 - Won - Best Film

Fajr Film Festival 1998 - Won - Best Actor

Golden Rooster Awards 1996 - Won - Best Co-Produced Feature

Golden Rooster Awards 1996 - Won - Best Director

Huabiao Film Awards 1995 - Won - Outstanding Co-Production Film

Istanbul International Film Festival 1997 - Won - CICAE Award

Istanbul International Film Festival 1997 - Won - Golden Tulip

Lucas International Festival of Films for Children and Young People 1996 - Won - Children's Section

Satellite Awards 2000 - Nominated - Best Foreign Language Film

Singapore International Film Festival 1997 - Won - Best Asian Director

Tokyo International Film Festival 1996 - Won - Best Actor Award

Tokyo International Film Festival 1996 - Won - Best Director Award

Würzburg International Filmweekend 1999 - Won - Children's Film Award

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The King of Masks

Director:
Tian-Ming Wu
91 Minutes
 

At A Glance

Film Synopsis

This tender Chinese tale of an aged street performer who begins teaching a young child is filled with warm humanity but not imbued with undue sentiment. It is set about seventy years in the past and centers on elderly Wang Bian Lian, who travels the street performing with his pet monkey. Just looking at him it would be hard to tell that he is a master of the rapid changing face masks technique that characterizes Sichuan opera. He came to the streets thirty years before, after his wife abandoned him, and now he seeks to pass on his technique to a young boy.

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Details

Runtime:
91 min.

Country:
CHINA

Language:
Chinese

Color:
Color

Plot Summary

Liang, a well-known actor specializing in female roles wants to learn the skill, but Wang politely refuses to teach him. Wang finally gets his candidate when he buys "Doggie," a young child from a starving family. Doggie's presence adds renewed zest to Wang's life. One day the child falls ill and Wang sells one of his few priceless heirlooms to save him. This leads him to learn that Doggie is not a 'he' at all. Wang still cares, but he is heartbroken for only a boy can learn the face-changing skill. Doggie begs him to let her stay and to teach her to be an acrobat. He agrees to this and continues looking for a boy. One day, Doggie accidentally burns up Wang's boat. Horrified, she flees into the city only to secretly return later with a baby that she had rescued from kidnappers. Wang, not knowing who bestowed the gift of the child, is delighted. Unfortuantely the child's wealthy parents learn that he has it. Wang is arrested and sentenced to death. Fortunately, Doggie is determined to save him.

 

 

 

Cast & Crew

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Directed by
Tian-Ming Wu

Produced by
Mona Fong
Titus Ho

Writing credits
Minglun Wei

Cast

Zhigang Zhang
Zhigang Zhao
Renying Zhou
Xu Zhu

 

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