Princess Hibiscus

Director: Huang Yu
Scriptwriter: Chan Kwun-hing
Production: The Great Wall Movie Enterprises Ltd.
1957 | Colour | Cantonese | 102min

Princess Hibiscus is a special film in more ways than one - China's first colour puppet film and the oldest puppet film in the Hong Kong Film Archive collection. It's also a Cantonese opera film, sung in a traditional tone that is extremely rare today. Adapted from a Sichuan opera and performed by members of the Guangdong Puppet Art Troupe, it's the story of the fairy Princess Hibiscus, who's banished to the Icy Spring Mountain for falling in love with a mortal. Great Wall, which released the film in Hong Kong, presented a puppet exhibition in theatres during the film's run as part of its promotion efforts.

A showcase of Chinese opera traditions from various regions, this film is especially appropriate for students studying Chinese Literature.

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