Quite a lot of people dislike traditional performing arts because they perceive such arts irrelevant and outdated in a modern world. Some think traditional performing arts are slow, boring and difficult to understand. It seems young people are losing interest in traditional arts.
On the other hand, traditional art forms are definitely important since they can connect us to our history, identity and culture worthy of pride. The arts give us meaning as to where we come from and why we are here today. They serve as a reminder of our roots.
There are 2 recent films in Hong Kong that make the audience emotionally burst into flames: Kokuho (國寶) & Blood Wedding (血婚). Both promote the intangible cultural heritage of their own country. The first one is about Kabuki (歌舞伎) which is a traditional Japanese form of theatre that combines drama, music, dance, and elaborate staging. It is like a traditional musical. It originates in the Edo period in the 1600s, and is well-known for its stylized performances, including dramatic make-up and costumes and all-male cast of actors who perform both male and female roles. Kabuki plots often feature historical events, stories of moral conflict and love.
The second movie is about Flamenco (佛蘭明高). Flamenco is a Spanish art genre from the 15th century from southern Spain that fuses song, dance and instrumental music, primarily the guitar. It is a beautiful art with roots in the cultural intermingling of the Gypsies, Jews and Moors. It is popular for its emotional intensity expressed through powerful dancing with precise footwork, intricate guitar melodies, and soulful singing.
The Japanese and Spanish films aim at promoting the awareness of safeguarding cultural heritage, connecting present people with their past, and keeping cultural traditions alive for new audience. By adapting traditional stories and art forms into modern cinema, both films successfully act as a bridge for the public to understanding past societies, celebrating cultural identity, and inspiring a great sense of respect for the old art skill that is declining. The movies, through the modern stories about the life of the performers of these intangible cultural heritage nowadays, show us that the invaluable works of art and unique spiritual expressions are not lost to time.
The film Kokuho follows Kikuo, a boy orphaned by gang violence, is raised in the world of Kabuki alongside Shunsuke, the heir to a Kabuki family. Their story is marked by a fierce, decades-long rivalry as they strive to be the sole master of the art form. The drama vividly explores the love and hate of two brotherly competitors. This artistic and yet entertaining film is screening in cinemas worldwide. Don’t miss it!
The second film Blood Wedding is about a group of Flamenco artists rehearsing the presentation of a famous show called Blood Wedding before they give it in front of an audience. It is an ancient dance performance which tells the story of a bride torn between the husband of her arranged marriage and her own lover. Finally, both the groom and her lover died, resulting in the profound grief for the lady who lost 2 men! The dance explores themes of passion, honour, societal repression, and the inescapable force of fate. The traditional artistic impact of the Spanish film is stunning and the movie should be on your must-see list!
Some said, “To move forward, you have to leave the past behind.” Some said, “For art, the farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see.” I think without appreciating the old cultures, people in Hong Kong will be a brook without a source and a tree without a root!
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