Satirical film set for release

The Stage, directed and led by the veteran comedian Chen Peisi, will open in cinemas nationwide on July 25.

Adapted from Chen's long-running stage play of the same title, the film is set during a turbulent era nearly a century ago when the country was plagued by conflicts among warlords.

Starring Chen as the director of a Peking Opera troupe, the satire-filled story unfolds as the troupe travels to Beijing for a three-day performance. However, an arrogant warlord mistakenly believes a waiter from a restaurant to be the troupe's top star, sparking a series of absurd yet poignant incidents.

During the Beijing premiere on Monday, the 71-year-old Chen expressed his delight in bringing laughter to audiences, revealing that he will continue to pursue his passion for art.

The play, which had been staged more than 330 times over a decade across 65 cities, including Vancouver and Toronto in Canada, also reflects a profound belief held by authentic artists: to resist at all costs humiliation by powerful individuals who lack an understanding of art.

One such plot line features the warlord pulling out a gun to threaten the troupe into revising a pivotal scene of their repertoire, Farewell My Concubine. However, the entire cast and crew firmly believe that it should not be altered, even under the threat of violence.

The film has held limited screenings since Tuesday and these will run until Sunday, five days before its nationwide release.