Dong ethnic song hits the screen

After six years' preparation, a film about the unique culture of the Dong ethnic group, The Grand Song, premiered in Guiyang, capital of Guizhou province on Nov 5, expecting to be officially released across China on Nov 17.

Based on a real love story, the film successively won numerous rewards home and abroad including best director and best artistic contribution at the 49th Houston International Film Festival.

Kam Grand Choirs, a kind of Dong multi-voice music with a long history of more than 2,500 years, was listed as the intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO in October 2009.

In the film, 24 songs were composed and reorganized from the materials of more than 1,000 Kam Grand Choirs. These songs contain almost all kinds of Kam Grand Choirs and various singing forms.

In order to produce the film, the whole crew came to Guizhou to experience the life style of the Dong people. They visited all Dong villagers in southeast Guizhou to collect Kam Grand Choirs and folk stories.

Chouchou, director of the film and also a Dong person, organized a group to run The Grand Song for free in villages of Congjiang county in which the film was made. The film was projected nearly 300 times in one year, receiving audiences of more than 42,000.

The film was also projected in Columbia University, New York Library, Houston International Film Festival and other occasions, gaining a good reputation overseas. Audiences were fascinated by its wonderful story line, natural music, beautiful scenery and rich ethnic culture.

The premiere of The Grand Song is held in Guiyang on Nov 5. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]