Apple’s Chinese New Year Film Is about the Virtue of Resilience and Keeping Chinese Opera Alive

Apple is once again celebrating Chinese New Year with an inspirational film shot entirely on iPhone, created by TBWA\Media Arts Lab.

Directed by award-winning director Peng Fei, 'Through the Five Passes' is a story about the Chinese virtue of resilience and one man’s perseverance in keeping the art of Chinese Opera alive.

Chinese Opera is a key part of Chinese New Year traditions, tracing back to the first dynasty of Imperial China. The majestic art form brims with colour and motion and is the perfect subject for pushing the limits of iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The powerful camera features — Action mode, low-light, and Cinematic mode — beautifully capture all the detail and intricacies from the performer’s colorful make-up and costumes to the pristine choreography.

Set during 1987, our leading character, Gu, awaits backstage ahead of his big performance. As he chats with the other entertainers who left the Chinese Opera to pursue contemporary dance and songwriting, he has flashbacks to struggles he has overcome while dedicating his life to the traditional art: being disciplined as a kid by his master, learning his father is in critical condition before performing, ruining his sister’s performance, and putting up with the jokes his friends and family make about the traditional art form.

As he is about to go on stage, the programme manager reduces the hour-long performance to just five minutes. Despite all this, Gu is empowered by his hardships and determined to perform. The film closes with a short reprisal moment to represent the individuals and minor communities practicing the arts of Chinese Opera in modern China. 

Director Peng Fei helped bring authenticity to the story, drawing on his family’s deep background in Chinese Opera.