The King of Masks (Movie, 1999)

Bridging Loneliness Despite the Disguises;

Artist and child find each other in moving Chinese tale

In a remote area of China, in the 1930s (provincial Sichuan), we meet an old street performer. His profession is humble, by ancient silk masks, a man's face can take on a new and startling visage in the flash of a second. But his secrets are a great prize. It is a tradition in his family that the secrets are passed only from father to son.

"The King of Masks" benefits by the survival of ancient ways into modern times. What he does want is an heir, which brings the film to its indignation over sexual discrimination in the China of this era. It goes without saying, at least in Wang's mind, that the only fit protege for him must be a little boy.

With unusual tenderness, this film explores how an old man who desperately needs someone in his life, and a child who longs for home and compassion, form a relationship in a society that seems cold to their needs. The girl, however, is a radiant force throughout the film. Irresistible and irrepressible, Doggie is able to crack open hearts caught in the most bleak circumstances.