The Torch Troupes got their name from the Cultural Revolution period when traditional Sichuan Opera shows were prohibited in public and troupes were obliged to tour remote rural areas and to perform underground at night. Torches were used for lighting. In 2001, six national Sichuan Opera companies were integrated into one. Smaller local troupes were dismissed. Today, the informal show groups created by Sichuan Opera actors sent off by national companies in 1990s have become new torch troupes struggling for existence in rapidly changing times. There are three or four surviving torch troupes which continue to perform in tea houses scattered in the old neighbourhood of Chengdu. A session of three hours with a dozen of actors usually attracts only an audience of no more than one hundred elderly persons and there is no sign that younger generations will learn to appreciate this local opera.

Sceneggiatura / Screenplay Xu Xin
Fotografia (colore) / Photography (colour) Xu Xin
Montaggio / Editing Xu Xin
Produzione / Production Xu Xin
Anno di produzione / Year of production 2006
Durata / Running time 110’
Formato / Format DV CAM

Xu Xin

Born 1966 in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, China, 1991 he graduated from the Fine Arts Department of Jiangsu Education Institute, he worked as painter and photograph. 2000 he created the Xu Xin Documentary Film Studio. He makes his directorial debut 2002 with the documentary Ma Pi, screened at Sheffield International Documentary Festival. He realized 2004 the short Carriage, selected for "Made in China--Young Art and Fresh Film From Beijing" in Berlin and showcased at Focus on China Doc, Berlin 2007, and 2005 the full-length documentary Fangshan Church. 2006 the Li Xianting's Film Fund and Songzhuang Art Center acquired a collection of DVD copies of Ma Pi, Fangshan Church and Carriage.