A classic tale retold

A Dream of Red Mansions has had at least two dozen adaptations for the screen, big and small, including a pornographic version featuring Hong Kong heartthrob Leslie Cheung in his film debut. There are also spin-offs that focus on minor characters, such as the servants.

The majority of these versions are various forms of Chinese operas. Even during the era of silent films, episodes like Daiyu Burying Flowers with the formidable Mei Lanfang in the lead, were filmed.

The best known is the 1962 version of Shaoxing Opera, which was not shown publicly until after the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), and turned into a runaway blockbuster even beyond the Shanghai and Zhejiang area where the form was popular.