The Adventures of the opera singers = Li yuan chuan qi

Description: Wandering through the crowds of people in Dragon Gate Township, Yi the Courageous is introduced as an empathic and complex character. He notices a young boy and his mother begging, steps into a betting ring, wins and hands the proceeds to the boy. He is also the benevolent leader of a troupe of nomadic opera performers. Dragon Gate Township, however, has a reputation of being a place without peace, a difficult place to perform. Yi’s role is to secure permission to perform from the influential leaders of the area. One of these is the philanthropost Mr Yue. Mr Yue agrees to allow ten performances because, as he says, opera is both popular and may also be used to drive away the ghosts at Sacrifice Rock. Yi must also pay his respects to another leader of the region, Ma the Bold and secure his permission also. However, he is advised that this may not be easy as his own name Yi the Courageous clashes with Ma the Bold. To do this, he visits the family tearoom and introduces himself to Ma using the name Yi the Timid. A deal is done. Cheng Zhaoxun, You Zongshu use cinematography to construct Yi as a complex character. Shots of Yi’s face begin in close up to emphasise the emotion and then zoom out gradually to offer context. In other scenarios contrasting characters like Yi and Ma are divided in the frame with the use of plants strategically placed in the foreground.