Funeral home drama a fresh departure

Veteran director Gao Xixi has completed a television drama remake of Departures, the Japanese Oscar-winning film about those who clean, dress and apply cosmetics to the dead.

Gao's version deals with a dresser working in a funeral home, and his three siblings. While depicting the family's ups and downs over the years, the drama also revolves around many social issues, such as single mothers and generation gaps.

The show is the first project of Gao's new studio, Hope Century, and will be broadcast soon.

Gao's next work is a TV series on the battle between Chu and Han, two states from 2,200 years ago.