Private Project

Singing Opera for Temples

Three years after the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional folk temple fair activities have returned to normal, and rural opera troupes have started to perform in temple stages. With photographer Liu Li following the survival status of the troupes for decades as the clue, this film presents the living conditions of the folk opera troupes in Sichuan region through some people and things involved in the troupe's performances at the temple fair. It also reflects the traditional customs, folk culture and spiritual persistence of the current villagers in terms of belief and worship.

  • Gang Zhao
    Director
  • Gang Zhao
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 53 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 10, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    Chinese
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Gang Zhao

Zhao Gang, a documentary film director and a member of Chinese Artists Association. documentary film. Filmography: A Folk Troupe (2013) FIPRESCI PRIZE of 56th International Leipzig Festival for Documentary Film, Germany. Shangshu Academy（2010）was selected for New Asia Film Festival（Cinevolution Media Arts Society in Canada). The sun in winter (2004) was selected for 13th French FIPA International Movie and Television Festival.

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Director Statement

Singing opera for temple in Sichuan has a history of hundreds of years.Temple fair activities have a long history.The most common annual Temple fairs in western Sichuan are for the Guanyin Bodhisattva, the Earth Bodhisattva, the Wealth Bodhisattva and Ancestor in the Qingming Festival. During the temple fair, the head of the Temple fair would use the accumulated income of the temple to invite the local troupe to perform for the Bodhisattvas for several days.On the one hand, it also wish to give thanks for the blessings of various Bodhisattvas, Second, to enrich the villagers' traditional gathering activities.The Bodhisattvas in the temple, the performers and the villagers watching the opera are very cheerful with the satisfaction of all.