ARTS / FILM
‘White Snake: Afloat,’ a cinematic ode to Eastern aesthetics and Chinese romance
By Published: Aug 05, 2024 10:25 PM
On the auspicious occasion of the Qixi Festival, Chinese Valentine's Day, Chinese animated film White Snake: Afloat will grace the silver screen. The film promises to be a romantic and visually stunning conclusion to the beloved White Snake trilogy.
The story picks up with the protagonist Xiao Bai finally finding Xu Xian, the reincarnation of her beloved Ah Xuan that appeared in the first film White Snake. Their fateful encounter on the Broken Bridge near the West Lake in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) sets the stage for an epic tale of love and trials that transcend time and space.
The films are based on a Chinese legend centered around a romance between Xu Xian, a respected doctor, and a female snake spirit named Bai Suzhen, who transforms herself into a charming lady after centuries of practice and cultivation. It is considered one of China's four great folktales.
The anticipation for White Snake: Afloat is palpable, with presales and preview box office figures hitting 40 million yuan six days before the premiere, according to Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan. This level of excitement is a testament to the enduring appeal of the White Snake legend and the creative team's ability to captivate Chinese moviegoers.
At the recent Beijing premiere, the film's creators shared their insights into the creative process. Director Li Jiakai revealed that the new film returns to the beginnings of the classic tale.
"We've used our creativity to tell stories before and after the main narrative, and now we return to the origin, hoping to present the main story of the White Snake tale from a modern perspective," he said.
The success of the first film White Snake, which garnered a remarkable 469 million yuan in box-office revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, sets a precedent for the technical and artistic achievements of White Snake: Afloat.
The film also held a premiere near the West Lake in Hangzhou, a cinematic event that was a strategic move to intertwine the film industry with local tourism. The film's promotion is pairing with the city's tourism, aiming to convert the film's audience into tourists volume.
The emotional peak of the premiere was undeniably the entrance of the iconic duo from Chinese TV drama The Legend of White Snake played by Cecilia Yip and Angie Chiu. Their presence not only brought back fond memories for the audience but also highlighted the film's ability to evoke a range of emotions.
The two actresses shared that White Snake: Afloat's new take on the classic tale is a refreshing approach that can resonate with younger audiences, offering them a fresh perspective on a timeless love story.
The film draws nourishment from traditional Chinese culture, vividly presenting the elegance of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and integrating the essence of Peking Opera into the narrative. This fusion of ancient and modern, of high art and popular storytelling, is a hallmark of the film's unique charm.
In the run up to the film's official release, its theme song, "Fushengyibai," featuring elements of Peking and Yue operas and sung by young opera actor Chen Lijun and singer Chen Haoyu, has been trending on social media charts in China. Many viewers told the Global Times that the song's perfect integration with the film's emotional depth and poetic imagery moved them to tears.
Experts who attended the premiere unanimously praised the film, noting that the White Snake series has consistently been a focus of attention. They highlighted that the film, in terms of character design and aesthetic style, is entirely original and embodies Eastern aesthetics, which is rare and beneficial to contemporary aesthetics and cultural shaping.
White Snake: Afloat is a cinematic work that weaves together the threads of Chinese folklore, Eastern aesthetics and modern storytelling. It is not just a film but an experience that resonates with audiences, transcending cultural boundaries and offering a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Chinese culture.
The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn
Promotional material of White Snake: Afloat Photo: Courtesy of Light Chaser Animation
Following in the footsteps of animated blockbuster Chang'an, which grossed 1.82 billion yuan ($255 million) by captivating audiences nationwide in summer 2023, White Snake: Afloat, produced by the same animation company, has already set the bar high for the summer blockbuster season.The story picks up with the protagonist Xiao Bai finally finding Xu Xian, the reincarnation of her beloved Ah Xuan that appeared in the first film White Snake. Their fateful encounter on the Broken Bridge near the West Lake in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) sets the stage for an epic tale of love and trials that transcend time and space.
The films are based on a Chinese legend centered around a romance between Xu Xian, a respected doctor, and a female snake spirit named Bai Suzhen, who transforms herself into a charming lady after centuries of practice and cultivation. It is considered one of China's four great folktales.
The anticipation for White Snake: Afloat is palpable, with presales and preview box office figures hitting 40 million yuan six days before the premiere, according to Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan. This level of excitement is a testament to the enduring appeal of the White Snake legend and the creative team's ability to captivate Chinese moviegoers.
At the recent Beijing premiere, the film's creators shared their insights into the creative process. Director Li Jiakai revealed that the new film returns to the beginnings of the classic tale.
"We've used our creativity to tell stories before and after the main narrative, and now we return to the origin, hoping to present the main story of the White Snake tale from a modern perspective," he said.
The success of the first film White Snake, which garnered a remarkable 469 million yuan in box-office revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, sets a precedent for the technical and artistic achievements of White Snake: Afloat.
The film also held a premiere near the West Lake in Hangzhou, a cinematic event that was a strategic move to intertwine the film industry with local tourism. The film's promotion is pairing with the city's tourism, aiming to convert the film's audience into tourists volume.
The emotional peak of the premiere was undeniably the entrance of the iconic duo from Chinese TV drama The Legend of White Snake played by Cecilia Yip and Angie Chiu. Their presence not only brought back fond memories for the audience but also highlighted the film's ability to evoke a range of emotions.
The two actresses shared that White Snake: Afloat's new take on the classic tale is a refreshing approach that can resonate with younger audiences, offering them a fresh perspective on a timeless love story.
The film draws nourishment from traditional Chinese culture, vividly presenting the elegance of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and integrating the essence of Peking Opera into the narrative. This fusion of ancient and modern, of high art and popular storytelling, is a hallmark of the film's unique charm.
In the run up to the film's official release, its theme song, "Fushengyibai," featuring elements of Peking and Yue operas and sung by young opera actor Chen Lijun and singer Chen Haoyu, has been trending on social media charts in China. Many viewers told the Global Times that the song's perfect integration with the film's emotional depth and poetic imagery moved them to tears.
Experts who attended the premiere unanimously praised the film, noting that the White Snake series has consistently been a focus of attention. They highlighted that the film, in terms of character design and aesthetic style, is entirely original and embodies Eastern aesthetics, which is rare and beneficial to contemporary aesthetics and cultural shaping.
White Snake: Afloat is a cinematic work that weaves together the threads of Chinese folklore, Eastern aesthetics and modern storytelling. It is not just a film but an experience that resonates with audiences, transcending cultural boundaries and offering a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Chinese culture.
The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn
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