Ashima (4K Restored Version)

Dir: Liu Qiong
Orig Story: Long narrative poem by the Sani people of Yunnan Province
Scrs: Ge Yan, Liu Qiong
Prod Co: Shanghai Haiyan Film Studio
Cast: Yang Likun, Bao Sier, Han Fei
1964 | Colour | DCP | Putonghua | Simplified Chinese & English Subtitles | 90min

An iconic work of Sani cultural heritage, the epic poem Ashima has been passed down for generations among the Sani people, a subgroup of the Yi (also known as Nuosu) ethnic minority in Yunnan province. Celebrated for its literary merits and cultural significance, the poem was recognised in 2006 as part of the first National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Plans to adapt the epic for the screen date back to the 1950s, but it was not until 1964 that director Liu Qiong brought the legend to life in this groundbreaking musical adaptation.

The film follows Ashima (Yang Likun), a courageous and beautiful girl beloved by many in her community. She falls in love with the shepherd Ahei (Bao Sier), but their happiness is threatened when Azhi (Han Fei), the headman’s son, plots to force her into marriage. Ashima was the first widescreen colour musical with surround sound in Chinese cinema, its story told almost entirely through song, with only a few spoken lines. The creative team undertook extensive fieldwork in Yunnan to capture the essence of local folk traditions. With a luminous performance from Yang Likun, herself of Yi descent, the film stands out as a landmark of Chinese cinema featuring meticulous art direction and musical elements deeply rooted in ethnic heritage.

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