The 33rd China Golden Rooster Awards
Synopsis
Like the Dyer's Hand records the remarkable life of Yeh Chia-ying (born 1924), a master of classical Chinese poetry. She lived through war, political persecution and years adrift overseas, and in later life returned to China in the era of reform and opening up, where she continued to write and teach, reconnecting the lineage of classical poetry broken by the Cultural Revolution. The film interweaves her personal life with a thousand years of classical Chinese poetry, tracing her search for the meaning of existence in the long river of poetry. Collected Commentaries on Du Fu's Eight Autumn Meditations is Yeh's most important scholarly work. The eight "Autumn Meditations" poems depict the rise and fall of the High Tang, and the film uses them as a metaphor for the turbulent years Yeh lived through. The composer Somei Satoh was invited to write the score based on the eight poems, combining gagaku and modern music to give new life to Du Fu's poetry.
Jury Citation
The film documents the remarkable life of Yeh Chia-ying, a master of classical Chinese poetry, interweaving her personal life with a thousand years of classical Chinese poetry and showing how she sought the value of life in the long river of poetry. The director blends narration, expression of aspiration and impressionistic imagery, using poetic atmosphere to present Yeh's life and inner world. It is a work that promotes traditional Chinese culture and has artistic, literary and intellectual value. Winner of Best Documentary/Popular Science Film.
Film Information
Director
Cheng Tsun-shing
Genre:
Documentary | Biography
Starring:
Yeh Chia-ying | Pai Hsien-yung | Hsi Muren
Country/Region:
Chinese Mainland
Language:
Mandarin
Running Time:
120 min
