Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom (Restored version)

The Cantonese opera is based on a Yuan Dynasty work, which tells the story of a courtesan (Pak Suet-sin) and a scholar (Yam Kim-fai), who fall in love as they exchange poems for three years. Their romance is thwarted by a corrupt official (Lan Chi Pak) and subjected to the toughest of tests despite the help of a sympathetic friend (Leung Sing-por). Together, Yam, Pak, Leung and Lan animate Tong's poetic verses, graceful lyrics and captivating drama, with the marvellous performance consolidated by Lee's brilliant cinematic mise-en-scéne and editing, which made Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom a masterpiece where the two art forms of opera and film converge.