It follows Princess Turandot who is cursed by a mysterious power emanating from three Mazovian bracelets that were given to her as birthday gifts and these bracelets turned the princess to become cruel and she loses her humanity.
The plot follows Princess Turandot, who is cursed by a mysterious power emanating from three Mazovian bracelets that were given to her as birthday gifts. These bracelets' life-draining effects cause the princess to become cruel, and gradually lose her humanity. Foreign princes who come to court her must solve three riddles, one for each bracelet, and only then will she be freed from the power of the bracelets. In the event any of the questions is answered incorrectly, the attempted solver would be put to death. One day, Calaf, an ordinary citizen, risks his life to answer the riddles to save her and inadvertently uncovers his own extraordinary past
-The Curse of Turandot* (2021)
In ancient China, a powerful and cruel curse hangs over Princess Turandot (Guan Xiaotong), the daughter of Emperor Altoum (Jiang Wen). The curse was placed on her when she was born by a mysterious force that seeks to punish the imperial family. It manifests through three intricate and deadly riddles that anyone who wishes to marry the princess must answer correctly. If they fail, they are executed. This has led to a blood-soaked history of suitors from across the world, each meeting their doom at Turandot's hands.
The curse affects Turandot deeply, isolating her from any form of love or affection. Cold and emotionally detached, she hides behind her beauty and the riddles, resigned to a life of solitude. The curse is linked to a set of mystical bracelets that Turandot wears, which glow when the riddles are asked, tightening their grip on her as more suitors fail and die.
One day, Calaf (Dylan Sprouse), a wandering prince from a foreign land, arrives at the palace. He witnesses the grim execution of another failed suitor and becomes fascinated by the mystery of Turandot. Unlike the others, Calaf is driven not by ambition or power, but by a deep belief in love's ability to overcome any obstacle, including death. When he sees Turandot for the first time, he is struck by her beauty but also senses the deep sorrow behind her cold exterior.
Calaf decides to take on the challenge of answering the riddles, despite protests from the emperor and the people of the court, who fear losing yet another man to the curse. His determination stems not only from his growing love for Turandot but from his own hidden connection to the royal family - a secret revealed later in the story.
As Calaf faces the first riddle, Turandot asks, "What is born each night and dies each dawn?" Calaf confidently answers, "Hope," and the mystical bracelet glows, signaling his success. The court is stunned, but Turandot's expression remains unreadable.
The second riddle is posed: "What flickers red and warm like a flame, but is not fire?" Calaf responds, "Blood," correctly again. The crowd grows tense, realizing that Calaf is not like the others.
The final and most difficult riddle follows: "What is ice but burns like fire?" After a moment of deep reflection, Calaf replies, "Turandot," revealing that he understands her inner struggle - her coldness and isolation are born from the curse, but beneath it lies a burning desire to be free and loved.
Shocked and vulnerable, Turandot is left with no choice but to marry Calaf, as the rules of the curse demand. However, she is furious and terrified at the thought of breaking the curse and opening herself up to love. In a moment of desperation, she commands that Calaf be executed despite his victory, but the emperor intervenes, reminding her that breaking the rules of the curse could doom the entire kingdom.
In a surprising turn of events, Calaf makes a bold proposal. He offers Turandot a chance to end their engagement if she can discover his name by dawn. If she does, he will accept death willingly. Turandot, determined to avoid her fate, sends her servants and guards into the city to uncover Calaf's identity. Meanwhile, the people of the court begin to sympathize with Calaf, seeing his love and sacrifice as a possible way to break the curse.
As the night progresses, Turandot begins to feel the curse tightening around her, and her emotional walls begin to crumble. She is confronted by her handmaiden Liu (Lin Siyi), who has secretly loved Calaf for years. Liu, knowing Turandot's cruelty, sacrifices herself to protect Calaf's name, proclaiming that love is stronger than death before taking her own life to keep the secret.
Liu's death devastates Turandot, forcing her to confront the consequences of her actions and the true cost of the curse. In the final moments before dawn, Turandot, overwhelmed by emotion, pleads with Calaf to leave and save himself, unable to bear any more bloodshed.
Instead, Calaf steps forward and reveals his name to Turandot willingly, proving that his love for her is greater than any fear of death. Moved by his selflessness, Turandot's icy exterior finally breaks, and she kisses him. In that moment, the curse is shattered - the mystical bracelets fall from her wrists, and she is freed.
The film concludes with Turandot and Calaf united in love, the kingdom saved, and the memory of the curse serving as a reminder of the transformative power of love and sacrifice. The emperor, now humbled by the ordeal, blesses their union, and peace returns to the land.
