CHINESE OPERA FILMS

Screening List：

DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBER

THE LOVE STORY IN THE WESTERN CHAMBER (3D)

THE BELL TOLLS FOR A DYNASTY (3D)

DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBER

Directed by: CEN Fan

Written by: XU Jin

Starring: XU Yulan / WANG Wenjuan / LV Ruiying

Plot:

LIN Daiyu, after losing her loving mother at a young age, goes to live with her grandmother in the house of the Jia clan where she meets her cousin Baoyu for the first time. A year later, into the house moves another cousin - XUE Baochai, a highborn young lady with grace and intelligence. Since Baoyu was born with a magical piece of jade in his mouth, and Baochai has a golden lock, people gossip that they are predestined to be a couple. Living with the girls everyday, Baoyu has only developed feelings for Daiyu, with whom he reads the banned novel Romance of the West Chamber and gets to know each other. Baoyu's father harbors high hopes for him and forces him to read boring papers, but Baoyu is contemptuous of fame and fortune, which is the reason why he drifts away from Baochai when she lectures him about concentrating on the political career. Although misunderstanding grows between Baoyu and Daiyu for the sensitive nature of Daiyu, the two show more and more affection towards each other. Elders of the family disapprove their relationship, believing that Baochai is more suitable for Baoyu than Daiyu, and plot to fake a wedding...

THE LOVE STORY IN THE WESTERN CHAMBER (3D)

Directed by: XIA Weiliang

Written by: ZHOU Changfu

Starring: LI An

Plot:

Passing by Pu Jiu Temple on his way to the imperial capital for the government examinations, ZHANG Gong had a chance encounter with CUI Yingying, the only daughter of a chief minister of the Tang court. ZHANG falls in love with her immediately, thus he decides to live in the west chamber of the temple. SUN Feihu, a local bandit, dispatches ruffians to surround the monastery, in hope of taking Yingying as his consort. Yingying's mother agrees that whoever drives the bandits away can have Yingying's hand in marriage, so ZHANG steps out and subdues the bandits. It seems that ZHANG and Yingying are set to be married when Yingying's mother takes back her word. With Yingying's maid Hongniang as the messenger, the two lovers finally meet in the garden. But the tryst does not end well, and ZHANG who is sorrow-stricken falls ill. Yingying could not bear to see her lover pine away like that, thus goes to the west chamber at night. Yingying's mother thereupon discovers the lovers' meeting and interrogates Hongniang, who tells the truth and condemns Yingying's mother for breaking her promise. Yingying's mother therefore reluctantly consents to a formal marriage on one condition: ZHANG must travel to the capital and pass the civil service examination.

THE BELL TOLLS FOR A DYNASTY (3D)

Directed by: XIA Weiliang

Written by: ZHOU Changfu

Starring: LI An

Plot:

At the end of Ming Dynasty in early 1644, the rebel leader LI Zicheng keeps his troops in Shanxi province, targeting at the capital Yanjing. The bell tolls and Emperor Chongzhen calls forward all the court officials and chancellors. He decides to order General LI Guozhen to stop the rebel armies as the general commander with the eunuch DU Xun as the inspector. However, General LI dies in the battle due to DU's over-interference and shortage of military supplies. The emperor then orders his fatherin- law ZHOU Kui to cover the escape of the prince, however, ZHOU shuts him out of his house. Time comes when LI Zicheng beseiges the capital, and when the bells rings again, few people answered the emperor's call. Devastated and ashamed, Chongzhen commands the Consort and the princess to kill themselves after the capital falls, and later committed suicide alone on the Jingshan Hill, leaving behind a note written in blood that says, "I wish only the rebels dismember my corpse but not harm my people. "May the descendants never forget my lessons or the bell will toll again...