Synopsis
SUN Xiaolei, a Peking Opera student, is facing his first life-changing competition, but his delayed voice change might jeopardize everything. Fortunately, during this anxiety-inducing preparation period, he unexpectedly befriends two competitors – the tomboyish girl SHI Jiahui and the rebellious ‘Nepo baby,’ XIE Tianci. Together, these three young adults navigate the ‘voice change’ of adolescence during a transformative summer.
Zhang Yudi
Yudi Zhang is a writer-director born in Beijing. In 2022, she completed her MAF degree in Film and Television Production from USC. In 2023, she became a participant in Talents Tokyo.
Her short film, "The Midsummer's Voice," won the Jury Selection Award at the Palm Springs Film Festival and was selected for screening at the Cork International Film Festival, Nevada Film Festival, and other film festivals.
Her first feature film is selected to Far East Film Festival. The feature script was selected by the Hong Kong-Asian Film Financing Forum and won the first prize in the First Film Market and the Golden Rooster International Film Festival.
Director's statement
The term “Dao Cang” refers to the voice change period in adolescence for Peking Opera actors. This voice change can ruin their voices, potentially ending their stage careers. This concept immediately caught my attention. Voice change signals the beginning of adolescence, and while it is a common physiological phenomenon for most people, it can directly determine the fate of Peking Opera actors. Suddenly, the elusive anxiety and powerlessness we all experience during adolescence find a tangible carrier in these actors. The confusion brought about by growth, physical development, and gender awareness can be condensed into this small yet significant moment.
