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Film Description
An abridged version of the 16th century masterpiece of Kunju opera, The Peony Pavilion. It focuses on the romantic and poetic love story that lies at the heart of this epic and presents theatrical highlights from Tang Xianzu’s vivid story-book section of life in China as it may have existed during the Song dynasty, between 960 and 1279.
Du Liniang (Beautiful Du) first meets Liu Mengmei in an erotic dream. Unable to find him in real life, she pines away and dies. The judge of the Underworld, struck by her beauty, allows her to return to Earth as a ghost to look for her true love. Liu risks all to bring her back to life and marry her. The couple encounter many obstacles, including parental opposition, invading Mongol hordes, bungling comic servants and rustics, marauding brigands and a host of other characters – one hundred and sixty in all, played by twenty-three actors.
The Peony Pavilion’s universality and theatrical immediacy generates an audience appeal that has lost none of its power, even today, as intimate episodes alternate with elaborate set pieces, lyrical poetry and low slapstick comedy. Director Chen Shi-Zheng sought to 'rediscover the essence of the art form' in this production, which he created by 'respectfully drawing upon, but not re-interpreting, the performance tradition of Chinese opera'.
The all-Chinese cast – some from China, some now living in the United States – are astonishing performers and, as the young couple, Qian Yi and Wen Yu Hang are spellbinding. Made by the finest carpenters and embroiderers in China, the sets and costumes are a feast for the eye. Lavish props, exotic head-dresses and elaborate make-up all add to the visual enchantment of The Peony Pavilion. Following the huge success of the eighteen-hour production at the 1999 Lincoln Center Festival in New York, it was presented at the Grande Halle Villette in Paris during the 1999 Festival d’Automne, when it was recorded, over six days, for this television presentation.
