Tristan Shaw is an American writer who enjoys folklore, film, and history. You can follow him on Twitter @Tristan89201760
As 2020 comes to an end, we take a look back at the biggest box office hits of the year, five films that helped propel the Chinese film industry during a difficult time. Not all of the films on this list are "good," but they were undeniably popular.
The disappearance of Zhang Yingying is the subject of Finding Yingying, a documentary by director Jenny Shi. It chronicles two years in the life of Yingying’s family, from their efforts to find her in the summer of 2017, to the 2019 trial of her abductor and murderer.
The first distinctively Wong Kar-wai film was 1990's "Days of Being Wild," where the Hong Kong director introduced his trademark style and themes, such as loose, elliptical narratives and an obsession with memory and troubled love. But it was a financial flop.
Pu Songling's works involving demons, ghosts, and other creatures of the night have provided inspiration for Chinese filmmakers since the dawn of cinema. In celebration of Pu's influence on film, and with Halloween happening tomorrow, here are five worthwhile movies adapted from his work.
A short, stylistic documentary that examines the love between a father and son, the difficulty of creating art, the challenges of dementia, and the importance of perseverance through anguish.
Golden Week is traditionally a popular time for movies in China, particularly films with a patriotic bent. Here are five that we recommend, including by directors Chen Kaige and Feng Xiaogang.
Eileen Chang is one of China’s most celebrated writers, with many of her stories adapted for the big screen. But what’s lesser known is that she also wrote many scripts, some of which turned into significant Chinese-language movies. To celebrate her 100th birthday on September 30, we take a closer look at this neglected side of her career.
Set in the working-class area of Prince Edward in Hong Kong, "My Prince Edward" tackles marriage, freedom, and the city’s spiraling rent. The movie is quiet and ambiguous, with themes we aren't typically asked to ponder in romantic dramas.
"Enter the Fat Dragon," an action-comedy starring Donnie Yen in a fat suit, is a remake of a 1978 movie by the same name. When it isn’t bogged down by cliches, or pushing family-friendly, New Year schmaltz, it can be fairly entertaining.