The King of Masks () is a 1996 Chinese film directed by Wu Tianming.
Synopsis In 1930s China, Wang is The King of Masks, an aged street performer who practices the change-mask opera art of bian lian. He laments that he has no male heirs to carry on his mysterious and complicated art and trade. At an illegal child market, Wang buys what he believes to be an orphan boy to become his adopted grandson and apprentice.
However, Wang soon learns his new disciple is in fact a girl. As tradition dictates that he cannot pass his art onto a girl, he tries to abandon her, but she stubbornly stays with him. He later calls her "doggie" and has her refer to him as "boss". He then begins to train her to be a flexible contortionist street performer. While looking at his masks, she accidentally sets his humble houseboat on fire. Out of guilt, she runs away. She is then captured by two men and held in a room with a boy to be sold later. Doggie helps the boy escape and takes him to Wang to have as a grandson.
Wang is falsely accused of kidnapping the boy, a rich family's child, and is thrown in jail. Doggie goes to one of her friends, a famous performer in the local opera, threatening to kill herself if he or any of his guests, including a local military general, are unable to help Wang. The King of Masks is eventually freed, and he finally accepts the girl as his granddaughter and teaches her his art.
Reception The film won a number of awards at various film festivals around the world. It was released in the United States on June 13, 1999 on a limited theatrical release and earned about one million US dollars. Roger Ebert, writing for the Chicago Sun-Times, gave the film 3 stars, calling it a film "of simplicity, beauty and surprising emotional power" that "benefits enormously from the beauty of the setting, the costumes and the customs".Ebert, Roger. "Review: The King of Masks". RogerEbert.com. 21 May 1999.
Awards and nominations Huabiao Awards, 1995 Outstanding Co-Production Film Golden Rooster Awards, 1996 Best Co-Produced Film Best Director—Wu Tianming Frankfurt Children and Young People's Film Festival, 1996 Lucas, Children's Section Tokyo International Film Festival, 1996 Best Actor—Zhu Xu Best Director—Wu Tianming 29th International Film Festival of India Golden Peacock (Best Film) Canberra International Film Festival, 1997 Audience Award Carrousel International du Film, 1997 Camério for Best Actor—Zhu Xu Camério for Best Actress—Zhou Renying Camério for Best Film Istanbul International Film Festival, 1997 C.I.C.A.E. Award Golden Tulip Singapore International Film Festival, 1997 Silver Screen Award for Best Asian Director—Wu Tianming Fajr Film Festival, 1998 Crystal Simorgh for Best Actor—Zhu Xu Würzburg International Filmweekend, 1999 Children's Film Award Satellite Awards, 2000 Best Foreign Language Motion Picture (nominated) 16th Ale Kino! Festival, 1998 Grand Prix—Golden Poznań Goats for Best Movie Marcinek—Special Mention by Children Jury for Movie Best Foreign Director—Tian-Ming Wu Best Foreign Actor or Actress—Chu Yuk Best Foreign Child Actor or Actress—Chao Yim Yin Best Set Decoration in Foreign Movie—Wu Xujing
References
External links
The King of Masks at the Chinese Movie Database Bianlian learning package for school children at Chinese Cinema '07