Journey of the Bonesetter’s Daughter

Journey of the Bonesetter's Daughter follows the creation of the San Francisco Opera's celebrated production of The Bonesetter's Daughter, based on Amy Tan's bestselling novel of the same name. An ambitious, cross-cultural tour de force that brings together artists from China and the U.S., the opera tells a deeply moving story about the difficult but unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters, inspired by Tan's own family history.

The film goes backstage to chronicle the challenges and triumphs of a collaboration with high emotional and artistic stakes. Composer Stewart Wallace's score integrates a Western orchestra with Chinese musicians performing on traditional instruments, while Chinese opera director Chen Shi-Zheng uses virtuoso acrobats and lush video to add visual drama. As the production is mounted, librettist Tan tries to capture and preserve the emotional truth of her family story in the drama unfolding on stage.