The revolutionary opera “The White Haired Girl,” which has captivated the hearts and imaginations of many Chinese people for the past seven decades, is finally coming to the big screen, according to a report by China Daily.
The opera "The White Haired Girl" first debuted in 1945 at the revolutionary base of Yan'an. Based on local folklore, the play tells the story of a young woman and peasant called Xi'er in Shaanxi Province.
In the story, Xi'er was forced to go hiding in the mountains to escape the clutches of a greedy, cruel landlord. During her time in the mountains, her black hair turned to white due to malnutrition. She was later given a chance to live a normal life upon the founding of New China in 1949.
The 3-D film adaptation of "The White Haired Girl" will remain faithful to the story to give audiences a feel of actually watching a real-time stage show, according to its director, Hou Keming, a professor at the Beijing Film Academy.
Other veterans of Chinese arts and culture are also onboard the project produced by the Ministry of Culture.
First Lady Peng Liyuan, who played Xi'er in a 1985 operatic remake, will serve as the film's artistic director.
He Jingzhi, who co-wrote the original script of the opera in 1945, will also be involved in the project.
The title role of the Xi'er, however, was awarded to actress Lei Jia. Wang Qifei and Wang Jing, who both worked in previous versions of the cinematic opera, also join her in the cast.
The actors and actresses were coached for 20 days by renowned actress Guo Lanying, who also played a role in the play's 1948 operatic remake.
Although a debut date has yet to be announced by producers, the film adaptation is expected to hit cinemas in major Chinese cities, and, in a later date, rural areas.