Wang Bianlian is an aging street performer known as the King of Mask for his mastery of Sichuan Change Art in a true story. His wife left him with and infant son over 30 years ago. The son died from illness at age 10. This left Wang a melancholy loner aching for a male descendent to learn his rare and dying art. A famous master performer of the Sichuan Opera offers to bring him into his act, thus giving Wang fame and possible fortune, but Wang opts for staying the simple stre... (Full plot summary below)
FREE with your Prime (USA) subscription or when you start a 30-day free trial!
| Movie Source | Available | Offers | Added | Views | Quality | Format | Rating | Link | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | UK only | 1 Month Free Trial | 23 Jan 2017 | 5288 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 75% |  Report: Broken Link |   |
| USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 06 Dec 2024 | 6821 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 88% | Report: Broken Link | |
| IRELAND only | 1 Month Free Trial | 03 Jun 2021 | 238 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 67% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | UK only | 30 Day Free Trial | 11 Jan 2018 | 665 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 95% | Report: Broken Link | |
![Its HD [The King of Masks]](/images/logos/icons/itshd.png){kind=icon} | WORLDWIDE | ? | 16 Sep 2015 | 3020 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 84% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | UK only | 30 Day Free Trial | 23 Sep 2024 | 673 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 41% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | UK only | Free Credit | 22 Feb 2019 | 134 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 48% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | WORLDWIDE | ? | 31 Jul 2017 | 77 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 27% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | WORLDWIDE | ? | 07 Apr 2019 | 22 | SD / TV | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 11% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | WORLDWIDE | ? | 25 Aug 2022 | 287 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 23% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | WORLDWIDE | ? | 04 Jan 2022 | 17 | SD / TV | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 7% | Report: Broken Link | |
Links compiled using automated software. Availability of offers subject to change / might be region specific / out of date.
| Movie Source | Available | Offers | Added | Views | Quality | Format | Rating | Link | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK only | 30 Day Free Trial | 31 Mar 2023 | 1120 | SD / DVD | DVD RentalRent by Post | 66% |  Report: Broken Link | |
 | UK only | N/A | 31 Mar 2023 | 30 | SD / DVD | DVD RentalRent by Post | 13% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 31 Mar 2023 | 79 | SD / DVD | DVD RentalRent by Mail | 14% | Report: Broken Link | |
| USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 31 Mar 2023 | 9562 | SD / DVD | DVD RentalRent by Mail | 77% | Report: Broken Link | |
| Movie Source | Available | Offers | Added | Views | Quality | Format | Rating | Link | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK only | 30 Day Free Trial | 11 Apr 2016 | 221 | HD / BR | Blu Ray RentalRent by Post | 89% | Report: Broken Link | |
| UK only | N/A | 11 Apr 2016 | 66 | HD / BR | Blu Ray RentalRent by Post | 42% | Report: Broken Link | |
| USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 31 Mar 2023 | 797 | HD / BR | Blu Ray RentalRent by Mail | 20% | Report: Broken Link | |
| USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 11 Apr 2016 | 8151 | HD / BR | Blu Ray RentalRent by Mail | 94% | Report: Broken Link | |
Wang Bianlian is an aging street performer known as the King of Mask for his mastery of Sichuan Change Art in a true story. His wife left him with and infant son over 30 years ago. The son died from illness at age 10. This left Wang a melancholy loner aching for a male descendent to learn his rare and dying art. A famous master performer of the Sichuan Opera offers to bring him into his act, thus giving Wang fame and possible fortune, but Wang opts for staying the simple street performer. Then, one night after a performance he is sold a young boy by a slave trader posing as the boy's parent. "Grandpa" finds new joy in life as he plans to teach "Doggie" (an affectionate term often used for young children in China) his art. All is well until Doggie is found out to really be a girl.
Leave your thoughts about The King of Masks.
| TheMovieReport.comMichael DequinaThis charming, '30s-set fable offers richer rewards than a jolt of adrenaline. |
| Spirituality and PracticeFrederic and Mary Ann BrussatReveals the desperate lengths a resilient little girl will go to find a permanent home. |
| Film Journal InternationalMaria GarciaBoth a charming film and a contemporary allegory, old-fashioned storytelling and scathing commentary. |
| Hollywood Report CardRoss Anthonystarts out strong and enduring, but squanders its tender sincerity on dramatics. |
| User ReviewRadomirs Cgood story, well directed, rich cultural and historical background... very touching |
| User ReviewJason OA wonderful movie made on one of the most fascinating and best kept secrets of performing arts and how throughout history, Chinese tradition has shunned the female gender. To this day even though it is not as extreme, these prejudices still exist and this movie is a touching story of how even the most traditional of thoughts can be overcome with love. |
| User ReviewJean-Francois VSuperb story and good acting. This is a real tear jerker that really hits your core. Highly recommended. Wish more was available from this director and from the writer. |
| User ReviewMichaela RAm I the only one that thinks this would make a great cartoon or comic? |
| User ReviewKathleen PKing of Masks (Bian Lian in China) is a shockingly beautiful and profoundly touching film. Winner of 16 awards from around the world, this film based on a true story centers on Wang Bianlian, a street performer in 1930s China who is growing older but has no heir to pass on his art of face-change opera. He has a unique talent of quickly changing masks in performance, and no one knows how he does it. He has a longing desire to have a grandson, as his art is a family heirloom that can only be passed on to a male heir. We then go to the streets, and see that people are selling their children because they can't afford to take care of them: some are even begging to take their daughters for free, because daughters are not worth much in this society. Wang Bianlian's story goes on from there. The film was so astonishingly good, the acting was amazing, and the issues were so weighty and well-addressed. There is the gender inequality and the depressing fact that in this time and place, no one wants a little girl. Also interesting to note is that the famed opera actor who always plays a woman and is known as the Living Bodhisattva is a man who dresses as a woman, and while he is famous and well-respected, he regards himself as something low, a half woman. As we go further into the film, the face the issues of human slave trade and its demand and thus the lack of a possible solution for it, the brutality and corruption of the military and police, and the helplessness and lack of power any individual can face due to unfortunate events or even good intentions. This is definitely one of the best movies I have ever seen in my life, and Xu Zhu, the actor who plays Wang Bianlian, presents yet another beautiful performance. |
| User Reviewld pexcellent movie. highest rating five stars. perfect in every respect. This movie reminds me in every way how much I hate most American commercial movies. The film is about a street performer named Wang who practices the change-mask opera art of bian lian as "The King of Masks". Seeking to pass his art to a grandson, Wang buys what he believes to be an orphan boy at an illegal child market, but quickly learns his new disciple is in fact a girl. As tradition dictates that he cannot pass his art onto a girl, he tries to abandon her, but she stubbornly stays with him. While looking at his masks, she accidentally sets his humble residence on fire. Out of guilt, she runs away. When Wang is falsely accused of kidnapping a rich family's child, he is thrown in jail. His former disciple goes to one of his friends, a famous performer in the local opera, threatening to kill herself if he or any of his guests, including a local military leader, are unable to help Wang. The King is eventually freed, and finally agrees to teach her the art of bian lian. I enjoyed the glimpse of the china of the past of which Americans never get to view. This seems a very authentic movie.! I agree with Ebert: "Like so many recent Chinese films, it benefits enormously from the beauty of the setting, the costumes and the customs. It's poignant to realize that a society of such beauty existed so recently. The river life of Wang and Doggie may be at the poverty level, but it has a quality that no modern rich man can afford" This film is first rate cinema storytelling. It is fantastic to see the characters grow together--even if she is not a boy!! excellent movie. highest rating five stars. One small ps type item. The sound kept cutting out on one channel of my stereo on this DVD periodically. Seems like its an internal audio problem on the DVD. Maybe my copy only? |
