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?
Role: Editorial Assistant
Director: Ann Hu
Starring: Jared Harris, Yu Xia, Yufei Xing
Feature Film, 2h
Shadow Magic won awards at the Changchun Film Festival, the Golden Horse Film Festival, the Golden Rooster Awards, the Huabiao Film Awards and the Hundred Flowers Awards of 2000. It was nominated for the Tokyo Grand Prix at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2000.