The Beijing opera film "Farewell My Concubine" debuted at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Friday and is the first Chinese film to capture this art form using 3D technology.

Reportedly, this will be the first of many as it is expected that several other popular Beijing opera shows will follow suit.

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The film starred 74-year-old opera veteran Shang Changrong and rising star actress Shi Yihong.

The film's director, Teng Junjie stated that when researching the culture of the Beijing opera he discovered that there were many possibilities for presenting it in 3D. Junjie then altered the traditional staging of the classic as well as reduced the running time from 2 hours to 100 minutes in order to make it more appealing to younger audiences.

Teng also told The Hollywood Reporter that the film would create a link between East and West:

"This way, we can begin to let Western audiences understand Eastern art, understand how each culture has its own brilliance, then we can grow closer to one another and appreciate culture from all over the world as valuable." The director told the magazine.

The film is also the first Mainland Chinese film to incorporate both 3D visuals as well as Dolby Atmos surround sound technology.

"Farewell My Concubine" is a love story based on the legend of Chinese hero Xiang Yu and his concubine Yu. Xiang loses a battle for the throne and Yu commits suicide using his sword.

The opera toured in America in 2008 and this marks the first time it debuts as a film but is its second debut overall in the US.

The Hollywood screening was presented courtesy of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and Television and was an acknowledgement of the 35^th anniversary of diplomatic relationsh between China and the United States.

TagsFarewell My Concubine, film, Dolby, 3D, hollywood