China In The Movies (1996-2006)

Publisher: New Star Press

French film critic Regis Bergeron once said, what most impresses the West about Chinese cinema is its contemporary realism.

There are those that liken film to a window on the multi-faceted human condition; to others it is a mirror that reflects the human soul. Chinese film may be perceived as a window that reveals the Chinese people's state of existence, and a mirror that reflects their dreams and yearnings. This book, however, is not intended to give a full account of the characteristics and achievements of contemporary Chinese film. It is designed to bring to the readers direct images of China's historic development and of the lives and mentality of contemporary Chinese people. We may be talking about film, but not exclusively. As earlier observed, film may be envisaged as a window or a mirror. We hope that the films highlighted in this book will, by virtue of their contrasting approaches, give readers a composite image of China and a deeper insight into the Chinese people, as both continue to evolve.