Saturday night, March 7th, 6 pm @ the Ancient Path house. BSTS*. This months’ movie is the award-winning Chinese film entitled King of Masks. Set in Sichuan province in the 1930s, King of Masks is about an elderly , lonely street performer named Wang who is able to masterfully switch facial masks at lightning pace in Sichuan opera style. When a famous opera star pleads with the master to join his troupe and teach him his skills, Wang must refuse. Family tradition demands that the secrets of his art can only be passed from male heir to male heir. Only a boy is worthy to learn the craft.
The problem is, Wang has no heir. But in a time of poverty, when many parents find themselves homeless and their offspring starving, children are not hard to come by. Traveling the river in his rickety houseboat, Wang one day comes upon on a baby market. He haggles with the black marketeer and is about to leave when a child’s cry of “Grandpa!” steals his heart.. He buys the child for $10 and sets out to teach him the art of the fine, silken masks. Wang is sympathetic toward the child he calls “Doggie” and when his young protege becomes ill, he sells some of his few possessions to cure him. Unfortunately, in the process, Wang discovers that his adopted grandson is actually a little girl – and completely worthless commodity in 1930 China. When Doggie explains the reason for her desperate deceit – she has already been sold seven times and beaten countless more – the old man allows her to stay on, but only as his servant.
The rest of the film is a journey of the heart: Doggie struggles with the shame of being an unwanted female and desperately tries to win the old man’s approval. Wang struggles against cultural pressures and his own tender heart while worrying that his family secrets will be lost forever at his death.
King of Masks is simply a stunning film – in every way. And though it targets an adult audience, film critic Roger Ebert writes that “it would be an absorbing experience for bright children. Yes, there are subtitles, but no words a good reader wouldn’t know. And the focus on the 8-year-old girl (not to mention Wang’s beloved pet monkey) make this a magical film for third-graders and up. If you know the right child, this is the right film.”
But parents you have a choice – we’ll also have videos and games available in the kids room during the film.
So dress comfortably, bring snacks & drinks to share and let’s enjoy this beautiful, beautiful film together (on our wonderful, donated, huge-screen tv). Like last month, we’ll hang around afterward to discuss what we’ve just watched.
*BSTS = bring snacks to share.