The highly anticipated Cantonese opera film "Madam Xian" has recently released its "Peaceful Homeland" themed poster, sparking excitement among audiences both domestically and internationally. Following the success of "White Snake", Pearl River Film Group and Guangdong Cantonese Opera Institute have teamed up once again to bring another innovative masterpiece to the world of opera film, set to premiere nationwide on July 5th.
Set during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the film tells the legendary life of Madam Xian, a famous stateswoman and military leader, who made remarkable contributions to national unity, ethnic harmony, and the development of the Lingnan region (south of Wuling Ridges referring to Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan provinces in China). For centuries, her story has transcended borders, resonating deeply with the nostalgia of overseas Chinese.
A Cinematic Fusion of Narrative and Cantonese Opera Recreates the Legendary Life of Madam Xian
How did a girl from the Li ethnic group become the revered "Guardian of Lingnan"? The Cantonese opera film "Madam Xian" sees through the mists of history to trace the life trajectory of Xian Ying over a thousand years ago—leading the Li people, uniting the Baiyue, and commanding troops to quell rebellions. By recreating these significant events, the film explores her aspirations for inner peace.
An important milestone in Madam Xian's growth was her marriage to Feng Bao, the Grand Protector of Gaoliang. Their union was a pioneering example of intermarriage between the Han and Li people, significantly contributing to ethnic integration in the Lingnan region. After their marriage, the couple jointly pursued their ambitions, striving to promote ethnic culture and production methods locally. Throughout multiple dynastic changes, they steadfastly safeguarded the stability of Lingnan and the unity of the country.
Cantonese opera film "Madam Xian" released its "Peaceful Homeland" themed poster
The recently released poster showcases a happy scene of Madam Xian and her husband Feng Bao watching their beautiful homeland. Against the backdrop of Lingnan's majestic mountains, the couple sits together at the edge of a banyan tree. Among the banyan's vines, the roble amarillo and the kapok, two representative plants of Lingnan, are in full bloom. Accompanied by the slogan "Peaceful mountains and rivers, united hearts", the poster evokes admiration for the beauty and hard-won peace.
According to the introduction, "Madam Xian" is the second film in the "Cantonese Opera Film Innovation Trilogy". In 2021, the first film of the trilogy, "White Snake", China's first 4K panoramic sound Cantonese opera film, was officially released. It broke the market ceiling for opera films, setting a new box office record for Chinese opera films within just 20 days of its release, and won the "Best Feature Film" award at the 19th China Huabiao Film Awards. Now, "Madam Xian" has won the "Best Opera Film" award at the 36th China Golden Rooster Awards, helping Cantonese opera films stand out once again in the national opera film creation field.
On-Location Filming and a Top-Notch Cantonese Opera Cast Propel the Film into the Spotlight
"The treasured goddess of South China F3 can no longer be hidden!" Since its release date was announced, anticipation for "Madam Xian" has been growing daily. Audiences familiar with Madam Xian in the South China region and overseas Chinese have been actively promoting their "treasured goddess".
Film Photo of Madam Xian
"Madam Xian" is directed by the renowned director Xiao Feng and stars Zeng Xiaomin, a National First-Class Actress and winner of the Wenhua Performance Award and the Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award. The film also features National First Class actor Wen Ruqing and National First-Class actor and Plum Blossom Award winner Peng Qinghua. The cast also includes the Wenhua Performance Award and Plum Blossom Award winner, national intangible cultural heritage inheritor Ding Fan, and famous Cantonese opera artist Peng Zhiquan, among ten other National First-Class actors. Zeng Xiaomin and Wen Ruqing, who played White Snake and Xu Xian in the Cantonese opera film "White Snake", now reunite as a couple in the film to depict true love and mutual support amidst the turmoil of war.
The major production team behind the film stated that, as a top-tier Cantonese opera film production, "Madam Xian" differs from the aesthetically pleasing style of "White Snake". It focuses on perfectly blending a realistic film narrative with the lyrical and beautiful expression of Cantonese opera. In addition to maintaining the unique features of opera expression, the film's crew also adopted extensive on-location shooting, selecting 15 locations and designing 33 scenes. These realistic settings provide actors with a broader performance space.
Film Photo of Madam Xian
The Cantonese opera film "Madam Xian" is presented by Pearl River Film Group and co-presented by Guangdong Cantonese Opera Institute and Guangdong Pearl River Film Studio Co., Ltd. The film is co-produced by the Publicity Department of the CPC Maoming Municipal Committee. Wang Chuilin, Party Secretary and full-time Vice Chairman of the Guangdong Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and Wang Yijun, Party Secretary and Chairman of Pearl River Film Group, serve as presenters. Li Bin, Party Secretary and Director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, serves as a general planner. Sun Jinhua, Deputy General Manager of Pearl River Film Group, is the chief producer. Liu Jiajia, General Manager of Guangdong Pearl River Film Studio Co., Ltd., and Sun Hongtao, a National First-Class Actor, serve as producers.
Overseas Chinese Anticipate Film Release, Hope More People Will Learn About Madam Xian
Madam Xian was born in ancient Gaoliang (an important county in Lingnan). But her legendary story is celebrated not only in Lingnan, but also widely known among overseas Chinese.
According to incomplete statistics, there are over 2,000 temples dedicated to Madam Xian worldwide, primarily located in western Guangdong, Hainan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand. Madam Xian has become a revered heroine among Chinese communities in Southeast Asia and local residents. In Gaozhou, Guangdong, there are more than 300 temples dedicated to Madam Xian, forming a unique cultural landscape where every village has an Xian temple.
Xian Tai Temple in Malaysia. Photo provided by the interviewee.
In Malaysia, the Xian Tai Temple in Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur, is thriving with many Chinese coming to burn incense and pay respects. Mo Tianlai, the executive vice president of the Jinjang Xian Tai Temple Council, explained that the temple was built in 1962, and modeled after the Gaozhou Xian Tai Temple in Maoming, Guangdong. Chinese from Maoming mainly worship Madam Xian, seeking her protection while living abroad.
"The Xian Tai Temple carries the nostalgia of Malaysian Chinese and unites the Chinese community here," said Mo Tianlai. Since 2010, the Malaysia Gaozhou Association has organized many activities to promote Madam Xian's culture. Many of the association's branches also have places dedicated to worshipping Madam Xian. In Malaysia, Madam Xian's spirit of openness and inclusiveness has influenced generations of Chinese.
Regarding the release of the Cantonese opera film "Madam Xian," Mo Tianlai expressed great anticipation. He hopes to have more opportunities to see such excellent works and wishes for the film to be screened in Malaysia so that more people can learn about Madam Xian's culture.
Reporter | Wu Caiqian
Editor丨Zhang Xuanzhen, Yu Lulu, James
