LCSD to present "Chinese Opera Film Shows" from July to October
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Details of the screenings are as follows:
Cantonese opera film "The Fourth Son Visits His Mother" (1959)
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Date: July 13 (Wednesday)
Starring: Sun Ma Si-tsang, Yu Lai-zhen, Fung Wong Nui, Sek Yin-tsi, Lam Kar-sing, Poon Yat-on
Synopsis: Yang's father and sons in the Song dynasty are ambushed and heavily defeated by the Liao troops. The Yang matriarch falls ill on learning the news. Yang's fourth son (Fourth Brother) is captured by the Princess of Liao who admires his bravery and presses him to marry her. Although physically in Liao, Fourth Brother has his heart in Song. He suddenly hears songs from his homeland, and the singer is his wife who travels all the way to Liao in search for her husband. The couple manages to convince the Princess to let Fourth Brother return home to visit his bedridden mother.
Cantonese opera film "Lui Bo" (1961)
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Date: July 27 (Wednesday)
Starring: Ng Kwan-lai, Yu So-chow, Leung Sing-por, Lan Chi Pak, Lau Hark-suen, Yu Zhanyuan
Synopsis: Using the luring beauty of Diu Sim to antagonise his arch-rivals, Wong Wan incites Lui Bo to kill Tung Cheuk. Lui then flees with Diu from the revenge-seeking aide of the deceased. Ensnared by Cho Cho's trap, Lui is kept hostage. Cho intends to spare Lui's life but his decision is disputed by Lau Bei who remains skeptical of Lui's integrity over the killing of Tung. Lui is condemned to be beheaded under the White Gate Tower. Diu arrives at the tower but is too late to reverse the destiny, and kills herself in a sacrifice for love.
Cantonese opera film "Mo Chung Fights the Tiger" (1959)
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Date: July 28 (Thursday)
Starring: Sun Ma Si-tsang, Fung Wong Nui, Chan Kam-tong, Lee Hoi-chuen, Tang Wai-fan, To Sam-ku
Synopsis: On a visit to his brother Mo Tai-long, Mo Chung, a hero for defeating a fierce tiger, is seduced by his sister-in-law Poon Kam-lin, who in turn is reprimanded by Chung. Later, Chung returns from a trip and finds Tai-long was killed by Kam-lin and her paramour Saimoon Hing. To rest his brother's soul, Chung kills the adulterers.
Cantonese opera film "A Patriot's Sword" (1958)
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Date: August 1 (Monday)
Starring: Sun Ma Si-tsang, Lam Dan, Fung Wong Nui, Tang Kei-chen, Poon Yat-on
Synopsis: Wong Mong stages a mutiny and kills the royal Han minister Ng Ying. Ying bequeaths to his son Ng Hon his vow to seek revenge for his dynasty before his death. Wong wants to win Hon's trust by claiming that the late emperor is responsible for his father's death, and betrothing to him his daughter Lan-ying. When Hon learns the truth later, Lan-ying commits suicide to uphold the reputation of her husband. Hon kills Wong to restore the sovereignty of the Han.
Peking opera film "The Unicorn Purse" (2008)
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Date: September 21 (Wednesday)
Starring: Chi Xiaoqiu, Li Haiqing, Xu Mengke
Synopsis: Xue Xiangling, a lady from a wealthy family, encounters another bride named Zhao Shouzhen from a poor family on her way to her wedding. Touched by Shouzhen's obvious plight, Xiangling gifts her a unicorn purse filled with jewels. Later, Xiangling loses contact with her family in a severe flooding and has to work as a servant at the household of Lu. One day Xiangling chances to see the same unicorn purse she previously gave away and finds out that Lady Lu is, in fact, Shouzhen. Shouzhen assists Xiangling in reuniting with her family.
Ping opera film "Qin Xianglian" (1955)
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Date: September 28 (Wednesday)
Starring: Li Zaiwen (Xiao Bai Yushuang), Xi Baokun, Wei Rongyuan
Synopsis: In the Song dynasty, Chen Shimei, who covets riches and status, decides to abandon his wife Qin Xianglian and orders the mother and son to be killed after being offered the hand of a princess in marriage. The incorruptible Judge Bao seeks justice for Xianglian by putting Shimei to death for attempting to murder his wife and children.
Yu opera film "Hua Mulan" (1956)
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Date: October 12 (Wednesday)
Starring: Chang Xiangyu, Zhao Yiting, Wu Bibo, Ma Tiande, Tang Lanxiang
Synopsis: Tension at the border escalates following invasions by foreign forces during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Worried that her aged father is too frail and her brother is too young, Hua Mulan decides to impersonate her younger brother and enlists in the military in her father's place. Mulan designs an attack plan for the marshal to capture the barbarian chief, thereby ending the war. As a reward, the court makes Mulan a minister. Everyone is amazed when Mulan appears as her womanly self at the Hua residence to meet the visitors.
Yue opera film "Trials of Love" (1958)
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Date: October 26 (Wednesday)
Starring: Fu Quanxiang, Lu Jinhua, Zhang Guifeng
Synopsis: Famous courtesan Jiao Guiying admires a destitute scholar Wang Kui and uses her savings to support his studies. Kui places at the top of the national civil examination in the capital. Hankering after wealth and power, Kui marries into the Prime Minister's family and divorces Guiying, who rushes to the Sea God Temple and cries her heart out before hanging herself. The Sea God sympathises with her distress and sends an underworld judge and a minor demon to accompany the ghost of Guiying to find Kui for a confrontation. Pretending that she is still alive, Guiying attempts to test her husband's love, but Kui draws his sword to kill her.
The above films will be screened at the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive at 7.30pm. Traditional Chinese subtitles will be provided for lyrics in the Cantonese opera films, simplified Chinese subtitles will be provided for lyrics and dialogue in the Peking opera film, while simplified Chinese subtitles will only be provided in the other films for lyrics. Tickets priced at $60 per screening are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1318.html.
In order to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, members of the public are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code with their mobile phones/other mobile devices before being allowed to enter the performing venues for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, all persons entering indoor venues under the management of the LCSD must comply with the relevant requirement of the Vaccine Pass.
Ends/Friday, June 17, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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