Peking Opera film project celebrates 14th year with cinematic remakes

As the Peking Opera Film Project enters its 14th year, organizers have announced plans to release 18 cinematic remakes of Peking Opera classics during the 14th Beijing International Film Festival.

At a press briefing held at the China National Film Museum, the lineup was unveiled, featuring a diverse range of productions, from Prosperity Brought by the Dragon and the Phoenix, depicting a political marriage, to Qin Xianglian, portraying a woman's tragic journey to seek her betrayed husband, and Farewell My Concubine, retelling a hero's last moments with his beloved woman after a failed war.

These selected films will be screened at the museum until May 5, offering audiences the opportunity to delve into the project through displayed items such as posters, stills, and behind-the-scenes photos.

The festival opened with The Mouth of Jiujiang River, a tale filled with twists about an espionage mission set during the 14th century.

Wang Xiangrong, deputy curator of the China National Film Museum, noted that this marks the second time the Peking Opera Film Project's festival screening has been held at the museum. He expressed his belief that modern cinematic technology could help the centuries-old Peking Opera to exert a more enduring influence.

Jin Xiquan, an actor in The Mouth of Jiujiang River, revealed his participation in the filming of five Peking Opera movies, including Farewell My Concubine and Xiao He Chases Han Xin under the Moonlight. He expressed his hope that the screening will attract a younger audience and foster interest in the traditional Chinese art form.