The Spirit of National Tripods (《国鼎魂》) started production in Shanghai on August 8. As the first of its kind, the film will play a big role in the preservation and development of Suzhou Opera.
Suzhou Opera
Suzhou Opera, also known as “Mother of Tanhuang” (滩簧, a kind of traditional Chinese opera), originates in Suzhou and has a 300-plus year-long history. It is one of “the three flowers” in Suzhou’s art arena, in addition to Kunqu Opera and pingtan, and was included in the first batch of the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006.
Adapted from the opera of the same name, the film is directed by Wang Hao and stars the eminent Suzhou Opera performer Wang Fang.
Wang Fang, national class-A performer, Kunqu Opera and Suzhou Opera artist, national-level representative inheritor of intangible cultural heritage of Kunqu Opera and municipal-level representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Suzhou Opera, has played the major part in an array of works, including The Palace of Eternal Life, The Peony Pavilion, The Spirit of National Tripods, etc.
More and more people could expect to come into contact with various kinds of traditional Chinese opera through film, which would greatly promote the development and preservation of traditional Chinese opera, said Wang. She also hopes after watching these films, the audience can go to the theater and enjoy the performance on-site.
The Spirit of National Tripods was the first opera performed by Suzhou Su Opera Inheritance and Preservation Centre after its establishment. Based on the true historical event, the opera tells stories surrounding the Pan family in Suzhou, who was committed to protecting Dayu Tripod and Dake Tripod and finally donated them to the nation.
The film began preparation work last year. It aims to retain the sentimental part of the original opera, enrich the realistic part, and unfold the charm of performers before audiences’ eyes.