THE KING OF MASKS Asia

An aging traveling performer named
Wang is a master of the Sichuan opera
technique of changing masks so quickly
that the act appears miraculous. Aging
and longing for a male heir to whom he
can teach his skills, he buys a small boy
nicknamed “Doggie” from an impoverished
family. He is happy and his life
gains new meaning until soon after he discovers
that the child is actually a girl. Only
after she begs to stay does Wang accede
to training her as an acrobat; he maintains,
however, that the secrets of the mask
can only be taught to a male. One day,
Doggie comes upon a small boy who has
been kidnapped by gangsters; she doesn’t
realize that he is the son of a wealthy family.
She brings him home to please her
father, who is indeed delighted to have an
heir to his life’s work. The incident leads to
tragedy, however, when the child is discovered
in Wang’s home and Wang
charged with the kidnapping. Frantically,
Doggie formulates a plan to save him.