An adaptation of the novel by Lilian Lee, the film explores the effect of China’s political turmoil during the mid-20th century on the lives of individuals, families and groups. Spanning 53 years, the film is two films at once, a tale of the friendship of two men against the historical backdrop of a country in upheaval. The central characters, Dieyi and Xiaolou, are two apprentices in the Peking Opera, the film examines how their lives are affected by major political changes such as the Japanese invasion of China in the 1930s and the victory of the communists in 1949 - alongside the story of a woman who comes between them. 

The multi award-winning film regularly tops film polls and is regarded as a modern-day epic. 

This season of Chinese films is part of the Belfast Film Festival Young Programmers project in association with QFT and supported by Film Hub NI. Peize Li, a former student of Queen's University, has selected the films based on the theme of minority groups in China and the diversity of Chinese cinema.

This film will play without ads and trailers and, as a result, will start promptly at the advertised time.