The King of Masks

Infobox Film
name = The King of Masks


caption = American DVD cover
director = Wu Tianming
writer = Wei Minglun
starring = Zhu Xu
Zhou Renying
Zhao Zhigang
music = Zhao Jiping
cinematography = Mu Da-Yuan
distributor = Hong Kong:
Shaw Brothers
United States:
The Samuel Goldwyn Company
released = June 13, 1999 (USA)
runtime = 101. min (China)
91 min. (USA)
country = People's Republic of China
awards =
language = Mandarin
budget =
website =
amg_id = 1:136108
imdb_id = 0115669

"The King of Masks" (zh-stp|s=变脸|t=變臉|p=Biàn Liǎn) is a 1996 Chinese film directed by Wu Tianming.

ynopsis

The film is about a street performer named Wang who practices the change-mask opera art of bian lian as "The King of Masks". Seeking to pass his art to a grandson, Wang buys what he believes to be an orphan boy at an illegal child market, but quickly learns his new disciple is in fact a girl. As tradition dictates that he cannot pass his art onto a girl, he tries to abandon her, but she stubbornly stays with him. While looking at his masks, she accidentally sets his humble residence on fire. Out of guilt, she runs away. When Wang is false accused of kidnapping a rich family's child, he is thrown in jail. His former disciple goes to one of his friends, a famous performer in the local opera, threatening to kill herself if he or any of his guests, including a local military leader, are unable to help Wang. The King is eventually freed, and finally agrees to teach her the art of bian lian.

Reception

The film won a number of awards at various film festivals around the world. It had a limited American theatrical release in 1999 and earned about $1,000,000.

Awards and nominations

*Huabiao Awards, 1995
**Outstanding Co-Production Film
*Golden Rooster Awards, 1996
**Best Co-Produced Film
**Best Director — Wu Tianming
*Frankfurt Children and Young People's Film Festival, 1996
**Lucas, Children's Section
*Tokyo International Film Festival, 1996
**Best Actor — Zhu Xu
**Best Director — Wu Tianming
*Canberra International Film Festival, 1997
**Audience Award
*Carrousel International du Film, 1997
**Camério for Best Actor — Zhu Xu
**Camério for Best Actress — Zhou Renying
**Camério for Best Film
*Istanbul International Film Festival, 1997
**C.I.C.A.E. Award
**Golden Tulip
*Singapore International Film Festival, 1997
**Silver Screen Award for Best Asian Director — Wu Tianming
*Fajr Film Festival, 1998
**Crystal Simorgh for Best Actor — Zhu Xu
*Würzburg International Filmweekend, 1999
**Children's Film Award
*Satellite Awards, 2000
**Golden Satellite for Best Foreign Language Motion Picture (nominated)

External links

*imdb title|id=115669|title=The King of Masks
*amg_title|id=1:136108|title=The King of Masks
*rotten-tomatoes|id=king_of_masks|title=The King of Masks
* [http://www.dianying.com/en/title/bl-1996 "The King of Masks"] at the Chinese Movie Database
* [http://www.llc.ed.ac.uk/cinema-china/kingofmasks.html Bianlian] learning package for school children at Chinese Cinema '07