Winter Begonia

Branded as an outsider and shunned as such, Shang Xirui (Yin Zheng) has faced a lifetime of trials but that has never once stopped him from reaching for his dream. An exceptional talent in the world of Peking opera, Xirui has but one dream, to share his love and knowledge of this beautiful, traditional art form with the world.  When wealthy businessman, Cheng Fengtai (Huang Xiao Ming) attends one of Xirui’s performances, he’s captivated by both the art and the artist. Sharing a passion for Peking opera, Fengtai and Xirui soon become the best of friends. An avid supporter of Xirui’s work, Fengtai helps his Xirui rebuild a local theater and train a new troupe of aspiring actors, to carry on the art and its traditions. As the two work closely together, their friendship blossoms, both finding something in each other that neither has had before: a true friend. But in the summer of 1937, everything they love and have worked so hard for is threatened, when the Japanese army invades Beijing. Knowing they must fight to protect that which they love most, the two take up arms in defiance of those who threaten to destroy everything they hold dear. Based on the novel of the same name by Shui Ru Tian Er, “Winter Begonia” is a 2020 period drama directed by Hui Kai Dong.