Release Date
2000-09-08
Status
Released
Original Title
西洋镜
Runtime
1h 56m
Original Language
ZH
Production Countries
China, Germany, Taiwan, United States of America
Production Companies
C&A Productions, Beijing Film Studio, China Film Co-Production, Central Motion Picture Corporation, Post Production Playground, Schulberg Productions
Overview
Beijing, 1902: an enterprising young portrait photographer named Liu Jinglun, keen on new technology, befriends a newly-arrived Englishman who's brought projector, camera, and Lumière-brothers' shorts to open the Shadow Magic theater. Liu's work with Wallace brings him conflict with tradition and his father's authority, complicated by his falling in love with Ling, daughter of Lord Tan, star of Beijing's traditional opera. Liu sees movies as his chance to become wealthy and worthy of Ling. When the Shadow Magic pair are invited to show the films to the Empress Dowager, things look good. But, is disaster in the script? And, can movies preserve tradition even as they bring change?
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