‘Ai Weiwei’s Turandot,’ Behind-the-Scenes Look at His Radical Opera Production, Lands Sales Deal With Rise and Shine (EXCLUSIVE)
variety.comLise Pedersen Maxim Derevianko’s “Ai Weiwei’s Turandot” has been picked up by Berlin-based doc specialist Rise and Shine World Sales, ahead of its international premiere on March 21 in the Highlights section of the Copenhagen documentary festival CPH:DOX.
The film follows Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei as he makes his debut as an opera director at the Rome Opera House, with a radical interpretation of Puccini’s century-old masterpiece.
As well as presenting “Ai Weiwei’s Turandot,” Ai will also debut his latest documentary as a director, “Animality,” at CPH:DOX, which will have its world premiere on March 21, followed by a Q&A with the artist.
Set in a mythical Beijing, “Turandot” has been accused of exoticism and was previously banned in China. Marked by his characteristic defiance and artistic audacity, with costumes and staging referencing his own art, Ai’s production transforms the iconic opera into a powerful statement on contemporary issues, weaving in themes of war, refugee crises and the pandemic. “When I began working on ‘Turandot,’ I focused on how to reinterpret this ancient story in a way that resonates with today’s world.
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