Screening of the Min opera film Two Butterfly Fans held in Pingtan

Pingtan, an island county in Fujian province known for its cross-Straits cultural links and rich local opera heritage, welcomed a special home screening of the award-winning Min opera film Two Butterfly Fans recently, bringing hometown glory to local artists and audiences alike.

Poster for the Min opera film Two Butterfly Fans

Directed by Jiang Tao and written by Pingtan-born playwright Wang Ling, Two Butterfly Fans is the first production of Fujian's Bamin Opera Film Project. It is also the first color sound film in the history of Min opera, co-produced by Fujian Experimental Min Opera Theater and Fujian Film Studio. Launched in October 2023, the film adapts a classic Min opera play supported by the National Stage Art Excellence Program. It condenses the original nine-act stage play into a five-act structure themed around spring, summer, autumn, winter and another spring, performed entirely in Fuzhou dialect. Filmed in Fuzhou, the work creatively blends stylized Min opera performance with cinematic shooting techniques and color film technology.

In November 2025, the film won the Best Opera Film at the 38th China Golden Rooster Awards, marking the first time a Fujian opera film has claimed this top honor. It was officially released in Fuzhou cinemas on January 9, 2026.

Wang Ling, screenwriter from Pingtan

For Wang Ling, vice president of Fujian Experimental Min Opera Theater and a national first-class playwright, the Pingtan screening carries profound meaning. March 1 this year marked his 45th year in Min opera, and he described the film as a 45-year answer sheet dedicated to his mentors, peers and hometown. Starting his career at age 13 in Pingtan County Min Opera Troupe, Wang has become an all-round talent in writing, directing and performing. He noted that adapting the stage play to screen posed challenges in balancing the stylized expression of opera and the realistic presentation of film, requiring more delicate performances and flexible scene transitions through cinematic language. The iconic "Meditation" scene, depicting the emotional entanglement of three protagonists in silence, became a highlight praised by viewers.

Group photo of movie fans and some main creators of the Min opera film Two Butterfly Fans

Local audiences spoke highly of the film's authentic emotions, elegant Min opera style and strong regional cultural elements. Many said the story's humanistic warmth and artistic innovation left a deep impression, showcasing the unique charm of traditional opera revitalized through film.

Wang revealed plans to continue creating Min opera works rooted in Pingtan's local stories, including a new script about Zhan Gongxian, a Qing Dynasty naval commander who guarded coastal areas for three decades, aiming to build cultural bonds across the Taiwan Straits through art.