The study investigates the challenges and strategies involved in translating subtitles for Cantonese opera films, with a focus on the 1976 film Princess Chang Ping (帝女花). By employing a mixed approach, combining quantitative corpus analysis and qualitative examination of translation strategies, the research examines the linguistic features of the translated subtitle compared with the literary translation The Flower Princess and how cultural elements are conveyed. The findings reveal that film subtitles balance conciseness with clarity through the substitution strategies to adapt cultural-specific items (CSIs). The study highlights the spatial and temporal constraints in audiovisual translation for Cantonese opera. It underscores the importance of coordinating cultural fidelity with audience comprehension. Through the examination of CSIs in the cinematic context, the research provides insights for translating Cantonese opera film and enhances the accessibility of this art form for wider international audience.