THE KING OF MASKS

THE KING OF MASKS - 1999

RATING - NR but probably PG for mature themes and some minor violence & brief language.

RATED - 66 Amazon (4.5/5), 1,300 IMBD (7.3/10), Roger Ebert (3/4)

AWARDS - 16 Film Festival awards.

THEMES - Culture, family, love, tradition.

STORY - THE KING OF MASKS (1999-NR) is the story of Wang Bianlian, an aging street performer, who is a master of the art of rapidly changing face masks (figure out how he does it) and has no heirs to pass on his art. In 1930's China, only males are deemed worthy of this inheritance and Wang has none (you learn why later in the film). He lives in poverty on his houseboat traveling from city to city in Sichuan along the river. He is proud of the fact he has never asked for money but always supported himself. A famous female impersonator (only men were allowed to perform so all women's roles were male impersonators) opera star is impressed with his art and becomes his friend and encourages him to find a son, so that his art will not die with him, even offering to partner with him and split the take if Wang will teach him the art but custom was that only a family member could inherit this craft. Wang goes into the black market to find a son. There are many girls for sale (nobody's buying them) and even being given away but he's looking for a son. He finds one and pays top dollar for him only to find out later that he should have checked all the parts because he has a daughter not a son. He is enraged and distraught at having been deceived. The rest of the story plays out what happens between him and 'Doggie', his daughter that he tries to disown, along with a few surprises thrown in. It apparently is based on a true story and gives you a wonderful look at China and its people and geography. Except for brief language this is a family film and children will love 'Doggie' and her struggle to survive in a male dominated world. A heart warming story of two people trying to make sense of the culture they live in. 5 STARS. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/10/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, TRAILER, ROGER EBERT