Jia Yonghong Movies
A 19-hour 16th-century Chinese opera written by Tang Xianzu is curtailed to this two-hour video showcase of the poetic dance and performance artistry of the critically acclaimed piece as it was performed on stage. Narrator Robert Powell summarizes the ellipses left by the drastic cut in length, and an hour-long making-of documentary follows the narrative performance. The tale of a young apparition recrudescing to the earthly world for her true love, this expressive love story offers incredible visual interpretation of real-world barriers like parental disapproval and warring on the homefront. ~ Sarah Sloboda, Rovi
