TO LIVE TO SING

TO LIVE TO SING (HUO ZHE CHANG ZHE), 2019
China, France, Canada | DCP, Color, 105’ | Chinese, Cantonese
Director: Johnny Ma
Cast: Zhao Xiaoli, Gan Guidan, Yan Xihu

A Sichuan Opera troupe led by Zhao Li, tries to keep the opera open through inexpensive productions inside the crumbling opera building despite its diminishing audience numbers. Zhao Li struggles with all her might to keep this art form alive while its audience is gradually disappearing. Zhao Li does not give up the fight even though news arrives that the opera building is set to be demolished and the younger members of the troupe start leaving for higher paid jobs. Meanwhile, fantastic characters of the opera will start entering her life through other means. Chinese-born Canadian director Johnny Ma decided to bring this artistic troupe’s hardships to the cinema screens after watching a documentary on the Sichuan Opera.