A basket-weaving epic? 1965 China said YES, and it's weirdly gripping.
Adapted from the original work of the repertoire of Henan Xuchang District. Zhang Chunyang is an expert in making baskets in the team, and his wife Zhang Auntie is the deputy head of the team. The old couple love the collective, are active in production, can help each other, and live a happy life. One day, Hu Jixiang, who had been an agent on the old society episode, came to Zhang Chunyang, under the guise of the production team..
Production
Genuine Henan folk opera roots—this is regional culture preserved in celluloid amber.
Acting
Zhang Chunyang's basket-weaving hands deserve their own screen credit.
Director
Lin Lan
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was part of a wave of 'socialist education' films meant to reinforce collective values before the Cultural Revolution exploded—making it unintentionally poignant time-capsule viewing.
Director Lin Lan specialized in these rural operatic adaptations; most are considered lost, so this surviving print is basically cinematic endangered species.
CN
