Directed by: Ermanno Olmi
With: Davide Dragonetti, Jun Ichikawa
Duration: 98 mins

A young man (Davide Dragonetti) gets lost and mistakenly enters a Chinese brothel. Inside, an old sea captain is standing on the stage, recounting a thrilling pirate story. Admiral Ching, the pirate leader, has been murdered by his own financial backers, after attempting to cut a deal with the Emperor. Surprising everyone, his widow (Jun Ichikawa) boldly takes his place at the head of the fleet, and rejecting the authorities’ offer of clemency, takes her revenge, ravaging the coast of China. The young heir to the throne sets out in pursuit of her, personally engaging the widow Ching in a great naval battle...

Not the usual premise for an Italian epic, but this sumptuous new film from legendary realist director Ermanno Olmi (THE TREE OF WOODEN CLOGS) is a stunning achievement - both delicate and passionate. Shot on location in Lake Scutari, SINGING BEHIND SCREENS is incredibly visionary and wholly intoxicating – a consistently original fable about war and peace, defence and surrender.