The King of Masks (1999)
cast: Zhu Xu, Zhao Renying, and Zhao Zhigang
director: Wu Tianming

When I was growing up in my young teens, I remember often having to read short novels and stories in English class, many works of fine children's literature. Shortly after, our teacher, a film buff like me would show us the movie version of the book for comparison.

"The King of Masks," not based from a famous novella or a short work, rather a script by Wei Minglung whose story of a humble silk mask maker and his apprentice could easily have come from China's turn of the century writers, poets, or philosophers.

Prior to China's Communist Revolution of 1949, Chinese culture still lived in a state of Confucian thought of females being less of a substance than their male counterparts are. Granted, they were not banished or exterminated, but they knew their place in society and it was under men. Women would not have dared worked a job designed for and only for a male.

Even the notion would have been considered unethical--blasphemy of the ancestors, spirits, and gods that filled their hearts and minds.

Master Wang or "Bian Lian" ("King of Masks" played by Zhu Xu) is a humble master with an amazing art for performing a skill in silk mask making. With the wave of a hand, he can make a variety of masks appear one after the other on his face and switch them at will to the dazzle of the crowd.

Wang is also old, without a wife, and lost his only son to illness when the boy was very young. There is no one to study his trade and by tradition only a son or grandson has that honor if he so accepts it.

When a local and highly regarded opera singer (Zhao Zhigang) amazed by Wang’s talents comes to town. Later he meets with the old master in private and wishes him to join his acting troupe, but alas, the old master's talents are for individual performances. Therefore, the singer tries to persuade Wang to take him under his wing and teach him the art. However, tradition does not allow it.

Finally, the singer pleads that he at least takes someone as an apprentice so his amazing art does not die with him. Considering this a wise choice, Wang takes the offer from a man who is selling his young son (Zhao Renying). Wang elevates the boy to the status of his grandson, but gives him the nickname of "Doggie." Together the two set out as master and apprentice, along with Wang's pet monkey "General."

What Wang does not know is that Doggie is harboring a secret that when exposed will force him to consider the traditions and values passed down by his ancestors generation to generation.

"The King of Masks," like so many films that come from the mainland engulfs the viewer in a tapestry of rich visuals and fine acting (for which it has won awards in both categories). At the core, "The King of Masks" should find respect from adults as well as mature children.

As a side note the highly intelligent and rational people at the Blockbuster company have rated this film inappropriate for children under the age of 18, because, by policy they put a warning label on any film without an official MPAA rating that is in color. Despite there being three curse words in the entire film (granted one being the queen mother of them all), this film is suitable and should be enjoyed by several opened minded adolescent audiences.