This is a fascinating film about the traditional art of iron painting, which still continues in Wuhu, in Anhei Province, south China. The art is based in theme and style on wash paintings, which are so famous, but in this case they are made out of iron and are often massive pieces of artwork.
In the film we see many fine examples, and on film it would be hard to tell them apart from wash paintings in many cases, but in fact their 3D working in metal means that they also throw shadow against the canvas, giving a more lively effect.
We also meet some of the people who are working at this craft today, and see them at work, and learn something about their history, and the history of the art also.
Like most of these films from China, they were originally made in 4×3 format, then cut down to 16×9, which spoils the framing of the film on occasion, and is also totally unnecessary, still the insight we receive into these traditional arts and crafts more than makes up for the technical deficiencies of the film itself.
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