The 11th RAI International Festival of Ethnographic Film

This is a nostalgic portrayal of the age-old art of rural shadow theatre in Huanxian in northwest China. We meet with local puppeteers, puppet makers and musicians who introduce their art with great passion. Their rough-hewn faces, the images of the arid landscape and the (equally unpolished) puppet performances determine the tone of the film. The performers are followed during a tour in the countryside, doing shows in cave dwellings and in temples. We record the disappointment of the men over the decline of their art. Yet a ray of hope remains for this tradition.