Looking China is a short film series made by a group of young film directors from over 20 countries. They traveled to various places across China, making films and exploring Chinese culture with the help of students from local universities.
Sichuan Opera is a traditional folk drama art popular in southwest China’s Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. As time changes, people’s intention of opera appreciation have changed, too.
The screengrab shows a Sichuan Opera artist performing spitting fire.
In the perspective of modern people, the artistic skills such as changing faces, spitting fire, hiding sword, among others, have become a representative symbol of Sichuan Opera.
People walk into the theater to feel the visual impact from the techniques, while ignore the inherent spirit of Sichuan Opera as a traditional drama with opera tune characteristics, performance pattern, and high literary value.
The screengrab shows a Sichuan Opera artist dressing himself.
Watch this short film made by Gerhard Adrian Dudu, a young director from Romania’s National University of Theatre and Film, to learn more about this extensive and profound art.
Looking China is a short film series offering a glimpse of China through the lens of 20 foreign filmmakers. We will be sharing their stories in the coming days and weeks.
