21 cinematic remakes of Peking Opera classics to be released

Peking Opera Film Project, a national-level program aimed at preserving traditional art through cinema, announced on Monday the release of 21 cinematic remakes of Peking Opera classics — the most since its launch in 2011.

As part of the ongoing 15th Beijing International Film Festival, the project premiered two films at the China National Film Museum, namely All Red in the River and Xue Pinggui and Wang Baochuan.

Set during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), All Red in the River recounts the tragedy of the patriotic general Yue Fei, who is framed and imprisoned, ultimately executed due to the emperor's suspicion of his growing prestige.

Xue Pinggui and Wang Baochuan, a poignant romance set in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), follows a warrior who is separated from his wife after being captured in battle. Eighteen years later, he reunites with her, only to confront the emotional turmoil of having remarried the princess of the rival kingdom.

Upcoming films also include Farewell My Concubine, about a valiant general's farewell to his beloved on the brink of defeat, and Havoc in Heaven, adapted from the 16th-century novel Journey to the West.

In addition to the festival screenings, the organizers announced that China Film Co Ltd will hold long-period screenings of Peking Opera films across its 119 cinemas since the end of April. This initiative aims to promote traditional Chinese culture and make these films, mostly performed by renowned artists, accessible to a wider audience.