Abstract:

"This spectacular film brings to light the priceless treasures of China's imperial art collection, relating them to the political climate of their time. It is an unforgettable glimpse into another culture and another age. Miraculously, the treasures survived the turbulence of war and revolution. When the Japanese invaded China in the 1930's, the precious works of art were spirited out of the Forbidden City. For years the collection was hidden all over China in caves, temples and school houses. Worth untold millions, it became the symbol of China's cultural survival. THE EMPEROR'S EYE is also the tale of a passionate collector, Emperor Chienlung, whose quest to create the greatest art collection in the world was actually a bid for his own immortality. Filmed with the cooperation of the National Palace Museum, the documentary show the precious artworks -- jade dragons, landscape painting, delicate porcelains, ancient bronze urns -- that so few Westerners are privileged to see. Here is the definitive film on traditional Chinese art and culture."