"The Midsummer's Voice," a drama about young Peking Opera performers, premiered in Beijing on July 18, drawing praise for its portrayal of youth, friendship and struggle.

The cast and crew of "The Midsummer's Voice" pose for a photo at the premiere in Beijing, July 18, 2024. [Photo courtesy of MaxTimes Pictures]

The film, directed by Zhang Yudi, tells the story of Sun Xiaolei, a Peking Opera student facing a crucial competition just as his voice begins to change. Alongside his struggles, he befriends Shi Jiahui, a tomboyish girl, and Xie Tianci, a rebellious son of industry insiders. As they compete for roles, the three teens navigate the challenges of adolescence – identity challenges and family pressures. Their rivalry evolves into a complex friendship and quasi-love triangle as they struggle to balance traditional expectations with modern pressures.

Voice changes during adolescence can derail an opera singer's career. This idea inspired Zhang to make a short film, which later won the jury selection award at the Palm Springs Film Festival and was selected for screening at various film festivals. From there, she decided to create a feature film to expand the idea and story.

Zhang said the idea for the film began in 2017. "The seven years represent not only the youths' persistence towards their dreams but also our dedication to the creative process," she explained at the premiere.

A still image from "The Midsummer's Voice." [Image courtesy of MaxTimes Pictures]

"Peking Opera performers' youth isn't as distant as we imagine. They sing pop songs in karaoke rooms too," said screenwriter Huo Xueying. "We hope viewers see their own youth in the film and recall the times spent playing endlessly and doing silly things with friends."

Through the journey of the young protagonists, played by Bian Cheng, Zhou Meijun and Chen Shaoxi, the film explores not only the growing pains and confusion of adolescence but also the choices young people make and the resilience they show in pursuit of their dreams, capturing the bittersweet nature of youth.

Director Zhang Yudi praised the young actors' performances. "Everyone is so young! They always have boundless energy, naturally embodying the spirit of youth and the essence of adolescence. It wasn't me who found these actors; they were already there, waiting for these roles to come along."

Zhang revealed she joined the actors in jumping into a lake during filming. "I wanted to be young again with them for a moment," she said.

A still image from "The Midsummer's Voice." [Image courtesy of MaxTimes Pictures]

Liu Jun, who played Sun Xiaolei's father and a frustrated opera performer, was impressed by the young actors' respect and diligence for Peking Opera. From script readings to filming, he was amazed to see how quickly the young actors progressed. They went from having no foundation in Peking Opera to performing skillfully in just a few months.

"It is so surprising! This clearly shows that they put in a lot of effort behind the scenes," he said.

The film's opera director, Yang Chao, praised the young actors' performances at the premiere. "This is the first film to tell the story of a new generation of opera actors, and I was moved to tears," Yang said.

A poster for "The Midsummer's Voice." [Image courtesy of MaxTimes Pictures]

"The Midsummer's Voice" opens nationwide on July 27. It has won awards at several film festivals, including the audience choice award at the Shanghai International Film Festival's Belt and Road Film Week.

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