Happy Lunar New Year from the USC US-China Institute!
Prince of the Himalayas
Set in ancient Tibet, this Chinese Shakespearen film explores the story of the young Prince Lhamoklodan.
Where
World Cinema
China, 2007, 108 min, 35 MM
In Tibetan with English subtitles
North American Premiere
DIR: Sherwood Hu
SCR: Sherwood Hu,
Trashidawa,
Dorje Tsering
PROD: Sherwood Hu, Jianhua Yin
EXEC PROD: Zhi Cai, Suming Dong, Deng Hong, Pengle Xu
DP: Hou Yong
ED: Mu Yu
PROD DES: Suyalatu
MUS: Xuntian He
CAST: Purba Rgyal, Zomskyid, Dobrgyal, Sonamdolgar, Trashi, Lobzangchopel, Dechendolma, Lobden, Ciringdongrub, Oma
In attendance: Sherwood Hu, Pu Bajia
Almost every country in the world at one time or another has displayed and defined its cultural identity by offering up its own interpretation of the plays of Shakespeare. Now that China has again become a global cultural force, especially in cinema, it’s not surprising that we’re starting to see Chinese Shakespeare on film. Sherwood Hu sets the young Prince Lhamoklodan’s story in ancient Tibet under the shadow of the Himalayas. The results are lavish and exciting. (Hu discovered his lead actor, Purba Rgyal, a 21-year old aspiring Tibetan singer, while scouting locations. Purba has since gone on to win first place in HAO NAN ER, a Chinese version of AMERICAN IDOL.) China's culture is obsessed with patriarchal authority, and Hu chooses to give the ghost of Hamlet’s father an exceptionally important role to play in his update of the story. As grandiose as the landscapes and backgrounds of the film are, it remains first and foremost a family tragedy.
- Rose Kuo
SCREENING SCHEDULE
Friday, November 9th 7:00pm
ArcLight Theatre 12 $11.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, November 10th 10:00pm
ArcLight Theatre 14
*see website for ticket purchases
Featured Articles
We note the passing of many prominent individuals who played some role in U.S.-China affairs, whether in politics, economics or in helping people in one place understand the other.
Events
Ying Zhu looks at new developments for Chinese and global streaming services.
David Zweig examines China's talent recruitment efforts, particularly towards those scientists and engineers who left China for further study. U.S. universities, labs and companies have long brought in talent from China. Are such people still welcome?