Overview

Beijing, 1902: an enterprising young portrait photographer named Liu Jinglun, keen on new technology, befriends a newly-arrived Englishman who's brought projector, camera, and Lumière-brothers' shorts to open the Shadow Magic theater. Liu's work with Wallace brings him conflict with tradition and his father's authority, complicated by his falling in love with Ling, daughter of Lord Tan, star of Beijing's traditional opera. Liu sees movies as his chance to become wealthy and worthy of Ling. When the Shadow Magic pair are invited to show the films to the Empress Dowager, things look good. But, is disaster in the script? And, can movies preserve tradition even as they bring change?

Top Cast

Jared Harris

Raymond

Xia Yu

Liu Jing Lun

Liu Peiqi

Master Ren

Lü Liping

Madame Ren

Yufei Xing

Tan Xiaoling

Jingming Wang

Lao Liu

Li Yusheng

Lord Tan

Y

Yukui Zhang

Lao Chang

Chen Chuang

Mi Hu

Q

Qi Mu

Jewelry Tower

Fang Qingzhuo

Widow Jiang

Li Bin

Empress Ci Xi