Shadow Puppet 皮影王

Description:

The story is based on one of China's first intangible cultural heritage items—Haining shadow puppetry.
Haining. In the Kunqu opera troupe "Wu Feng," the simple-hearted Da-Jiang has long secretly loved his junior apprentice sister Tian-Yin, but she is already betrothed to their senior apprentice brother Chang-Hong.
Da-Jiang has a special sensitivity to light and shadow, and night after night he studies hand shadows by a "horse lantern." One day he accidentally obtains a mysterious wooden chest containing a set of shadow puppet characters and props, as well as a play script: "The Tale of the Hibiscus." Da-Jiang becomes engrossed in it...
Chang-Hong prepares to take the Wu Feng troupe to Shanghai to seek opportunities. On the day of the farewell performance of "The Palace of Eternal Life," Fan Chang-Hong loses his voice and cannot go on stage, falling into a predicament. Unexpectedly, Da-Jiang comes to "save the show," performing in place of Fan Chang-Hong and resolving Tian-Yin's crisis.
Tian-Yin is grateful to Da-Jiang and goes to the countryside to watch his shadow puppet performance. However, they are seen by others, giving rise to gossip.
Da-Jiang cannot bear the torment of love, but he also does not want to ruin the relationship between his senior apprentice brother and junior apprentice sister, so he suddenly leaves without saying goodbye. Tian-Yin has no choice but to go to Shanghai with Chang-Hong.
With the help of an older uncle, Da-Jiang secretly arrives at the tide-watching resort town of Yanguan, stays on an abandoned boat, and continues to bury himself in his shadow puppetry to relieve his pain.