Archive / Ling-An Society (1977)

This documentary directed by Chang Chao-Tang (張照堂) captures a pivotal cultural moment in 1977 Taiwan. As traditional performing arts faced the pressures of modernization, professor Chiu Kun-liang (邱坤良) led a group of university students to apprentice under the masters of the historic Ling'an Society, learning "zidixi" (子弟戲)—a form of grassroots, self-organized folk opera troupe tradition. Breaking down the boundaries between academia and vernacular culture, this “cultural action” culminated in a series of open-air public performances. The film functions more as an archival record, preserving fragments of the troupe’s world: the process of stage makeup, the youthful faces of the performers, and fleeting scenes from outdoor stage performances. Through raw and evocative imagery, Chang captures the sweat, rhythms, and fervent idealism of a younger generation attempting to revive the fading sounds and social spirit of Beiguan opera from the ground up.