Gang Zhao
China | 2013 | 68 min
World premiere
Language : Chinese
Subtitles : English, French

Dandan, sixteen years old, is the most prominent actress in the troupe led by Zhao Li. Her audience, though, is mostly limited to elderly members of the town who, day after day, attend every show. But she wants to be a star. Her dreams create a contrast inside the family, so one day she decides to go her own way. Actress is a tale of how tradition and modernity coexist in modern China.

In the spring of 2012, a folk opera troupe of eleven actors arrived in the town of Shibantan Town in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan. Zhao Li has already been leading the troupe for six years. In a rented shed, they put on three hours of traditional performances, performing different plays every day. Dandan, sixteen years old, beautiful, talented, is the most prominent actress in the troupe. She has an acting background, since her family also used to travel around as performers staging traditional opera. Her audience, though, is mostly limited to elderly members of the town who, day after day, attend every show. But Dandan wants to be a star. She aims at something bigger: internet clips, pop music videos, TV. Dandan’s dreams create a contrast inside the family, so one day she decides to go her own way. Actress is a tale of how tradition and modernity coexist in modern China while the country embraces capitalism and struggles to find a new identity. Director Gang Zhao manages to capture a moment of historical transition shown through the anxieties of a young girl.

Giona A. Nazzaro

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