YIBADA

Cao Wenxuan's Books to Get Movie, Theater Adaptations

| Jun 26, 2016 11:56 PM EDT

More literary works of Chinese authors are being adapted into films and theatrical works.

Cao Wenxuan's "Iron Mark" and "Bronze and Sunflower" will soon come to life as they get movie and film adaptations, China Daily reported.

Two months ago, Cao made history after becoming the first Chinese author to bring home a Hans Christian Andersen Prize. The biennial prestigious award is being granted by the Danish Queen Margrethe II herself.

In a recently held copyright symposium in Beijing, the award-winning author described literary works as "atomic bombs, of which the explosion will bring splendid scenarios."

"You can bring them to the theaters, to pictures, to the screen and to video games since they can be developed infinitely," the writer further remarked.

Cao urged his fellow literary writers to not "be sensitive to the contemporary era, and be dedicated only to their writing."

After Cao's unprecedented win, his "Iron Work," which was only completed last year, saw a sharp rise in sales selling 300,000 volumes.

Cao took 10 years to finish the novel, which made its debut the same year China celebrated the 70th anniversary of its victory in the landmark War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

"Iron Mark" follows the story of a horse who, at a young age, was rescued from a group of wolves by a child named Powa. Powa rescues the horse in the end after it was taken away by Japanese invaders, who branded it with an iron mark. Throughout the horse's service to the Japanese, it offered rides to Japanese military intruders.

Meanwhile, "Bronze and Sunflower" tells the tale of a young city girl who moves to the countryside. The story of Sunflower, set to the backdrop of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, further unfolds as she meets Bronze, whose family only makes enough to barely afford to feed themselves.

A Beijing Times report noted that such adaptations of literary works have boosted the writings' legacy.

More adaptations are expected to be made in the future after the success of the screen adaptations of some online works like "To Youth" and "Grave Robbers' Chronicles," the article added.

Related News

Most Popular

EDITOR'S PICK