Zhu Xu, Zhou Ren-Ying, Zhang Riuyang

Wang Bianlian is an aging street performer known as the King of Mask for his mastery of Sichuan Change Art in a true story. His wife left him with and infant son over 30 years ago. The son died from i...( read more  read more... )llness at age 10. This left Wang a melancholy loner aching for a male descendent to learn his rare and dying art. A famous master performer of the Sichuan Opera offers to bring him into his act, thus giving Wang fame and possible fortune, but Wang opts for staying the simple street performer. Then, one night after a performance he is sold a young boy by a slave trader posing as the boy's parent. "Grandpa" finds new joy in life as he plans to teach "Doggie" (an affectionate term often used for young children in China) his art. All is well until Doggie is found out to really be a girl.

Flixster Users

89% liked it

542 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

17 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: Wu Tianming

Release Date: December 31, 1999

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DVD Release Date: March 7, 2000

Stats: 152 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (152)


  • April 25, 2007
    Not a bad story, but not what I'd hoped to see. If they'd spent more time exploring the artistry of the mask quick-change and the King teaching that to "Doggie," I think the film would be stronger for it. The art form is fascinating and pure magic.
  • June 10, 2008
    A well directed moving story.
  • October 5, 2009
    Very touching. Loved it!
  • June 9, 2009
    good drama nice to watch with kids and family. good story line and if u dont mind read subtilles .nice moral to story about adoption
  • March 25, 2009
    Very well done, and touching, heart-warming movie. Love it!
  • March 14, 2009
    One of the best Chinese movies I have ever seen. You can find in it a shadow of many Asian movies from Farewell My Concubine to Fire to Slumdog Millionaire.
  • January 13, 2009
    This story will pull at your heart strings as an early-1900's Chinese man gets over his society's sexism and repression of little girls.
  • June 4, 2008
    A fine Chinese melodrama.
  • June 1, 2008
    Kinda nice and touching. Sometimes a bit on the mushy side. Good, but not great.
  • January 14, 2008
    Tear-jerking. One of the most recommanded film by me. Many foreign elements unknown to the Occidental world such as tradition to pass down family's secret skill unto sons, the working force of the society, and one's own sons only. Nonetheless, the emotion and the art is much app...( read more)reciated and louder than color. A must watch!

Comments


  • apoorva594
    September 14, 2007
    yuckkk sick movie...never ever wanna watch it again!

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