"Woman of the Southern Wind examines the quest of Taiwanese performing artist Mei-O Chen to revive the ancient Chinese music known as Nanguan. A former Nanguan singer, Mei-O has breathed new life into this endangered art as the founder-director of Taiwan's internationally acclaimed Han Tang Yeufu Ensemble. Han Tang combines the haunting melodies of Nanguan with the eerily beautiful choreography of another endangered Chinese tradition, Pear Orchard Theater. "Woman of the Southern Wind" showcases the exquisite artistry of this extraordinary troupe while painting an unforgettable portrait of its gifted creator, Mei-O Chen.

Mei-O is an unlikely savior. Born into poverty, forced to quit school in the third grade, stricken with cancer as a teen, and saddled with the responsibilities of single motherhood before the age of twenty, she has fought to preserve a music that once captivated the cream of Chinese society. Woman of the Southern Wind follows Mei-O's inspiring journey, first in Taiwan and then in China, as she battles to restore the lost glory of her beloved Nanguan." --http://www.lotusfilms.org/woman.htm