First-Time Viewing

Shadow Magic

Release Date:April 6, 2001

Running Time:116 min

Genres:Drama, History

Director

Cast

Jared Harris Xia Yu Liu Peiqi Lü Liping Yufei Xing Jingming Wang Li Yusheng Yukui Zhang Chen Chuang Qi Mu Fang Qingzhuo Li Bin

Top billed cast (via TMDB).

Synopsis

Beijing, 1902: an enterprising young portrait photographer named Liu Jinglun, keen on new technology, befriends a newly-arrived Englishman who's brought projector, camera, and Lumière-brothers' shorts to open the Shadow Magic theater. Liu's work with Wallace brings him conflict with tradition and his father's authority, complicated by his falling in love with Ling, daughter of Lord Tan, star of Beijing's traditional opera. Liu sees movies as his chance to become wealthy and worthy of Ling. When the Shadow Magic pair are invited to show the films to the Empress Dowager, things look good. But, is disaster in the script? And, can movies preserve tradition even as they bring change?

Where to watch

Rent