Chinese Films
Links to individual Chinese films, including movies from Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Dark Matter
DARK MATTER, the feature film directorial debut of renowned opera and theater director Chen Shi-Zheng, delves into the world of Chinese students living on their own in the United States. Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn and Liu Ye star.
DARK MATTER, the feature film directorial debut of renowned opera and theater director Chen Shi-Zheng, delves into the world of Chinese students living on their own in the United States. Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn and Liu Ye star.
Summer Palace
Ye Lou's "Summer Palace" uses recent events in China's history as a backdrop for an intimate story about young lovers. Full frontal nudity (both male and female) and off camera reference to the massacre at Tiananmen square prompted Chinese censors to slap Ye with a five year ban from filmmaking. The over long story, unfortunately, doesn't resonate like it should.
Ye Lou's "Summer Palace" uses recent events in China's history as a backdrop for an intimate story about young lovers. Full frontal nudity (both male and female) and off camera reference to the massacre at Tiananmen square prompted Chinese censors to slap Ye with a five year ban from filmmaking. The over long story, unfortunately, doesn't resonate like it should.
Lust, Caution
Ang Lee's erotic espionage thriller "Lust, Caution" tells the story of a young woman (Tang Wei) in Japanese occupied Shanghai during world war two who must lure a war collaborator (Tony Leung) to his assignation.
Ang Lee's erotic espionage thriller "Lust, Caution" tells the story of a young woman (Tang Wei) in Japanese occupied Shanghai during world war two who must lure a war collaborator (Tony Leung) to his assignation.
Curse of the Golden Flower
"Curse of the Golden Flower" promises to be Zhang Yimou's most colorful and biggest production to date fusing high drama and romantic intrigue with the best of contemporary martial arts. The film stars Gong Li and Chow Yun Fat. Opens December 22, 2006.
"Curse of the Golden Flower" promises to be Zhang Yimou's most colorful and biggest production to date fusing high drama and romantic intrigue with the best of contemporary martial arts. The film stars Gong Li and Chow Yun Fat. Opens December 22, 2006.
Jet Li's Hero - Review
Part "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" part "Rashomon," Chinese art house auteur Zhang Yimou ("Raise the Red Lantern") gets in on the wire-fu action with the blockbuster "Hero," the martial arts sensation starring Jet Li and Maggie Cheung that stormed American theaters last weekend.
Part "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" part "Rashomon," Chinese art house auteur Zhang Yimou ("Raise the Red Lantern") gets in on the wire-fu action with the blockbuster "Hero," the martial arts sensation starring Jet Li and Maggie Cheung that stormed American theaters last weekend.
A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
An analysis of Edward Yang's film and its haunted social landscape.
An analysis of Edward Yang's film and its haunted social landscape.
Back to Back, Face to Face (1994)
The second installment of Huang Jianxin's self-styled "urban attitude" trilogy.
The second installment of Huang Jianxin's self-styled "urban attitude" trilogy.
City of Sadness (1989)
An incredibly rich web site on Hou Hsiao-hsien's 1989 masterpiece from Cinemaspace, the film studies program at UC Berkeley.
An incredibly rich web site on Hou Hsiao-hsien's 1989 masterpiece from Cinemaspace, the film studies program at UC Berkeley.
The Emperor and the Assasin
Gong Li stars in Chen Kaige's epic historical drama.
Gong Li stars in Chen Kaige's epic historical drama.
The Emperor's Shadow (1999)
A so-so review of Zhou Xiaowen's marvelous to look at, but not so innovative film.
A so-so review of Zhou Xiaowen's marvelous to look at, but not so innovative film.
Farewell, My Concubine (1993)
Robert Ebert's rave review of Chen Kaige's epic drama.
Robert Ebert's rave review of Chen Kaige's epic drama.
In the Heat of the Sun (1995)
This jewel of a film remains largely unknown outside of China. Jiang Wen and writer Wang Shuo collaborated on this 1994 feature about coming-of-age in 1970s Beijing.
This jewel of a film remains largely unknown outside of China. Jiang Wen and writer Wang Shuo collaborated on this 1994 feature about coming-of-age in 1970s Beijing.
Happy Times
Chinese director Zhang Yimou has a gift when it comes to discovering actresses. Joining an esteemed list including Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi comes Dong Jie. Her shining presence is reason enough to see this formula-driven tragi-comedy.
Chinese director Zhang Yimou has a gift when it comes to discovering actresses. Joining an esteemed list including Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi comes Dong Jie. Her shining presence is reason enough to see this formula-driven tragi-comedy.
Ju Dou (1990)
Roger Ebert's review of Zhang Yimou's romantic tragedy.
Roger Ebert's review of Zhang Yimou's romantic tragedy.
Life on a String (1991)
This early film by Chen Kaige is often considered his most philosophical work.
This early film by Chen Kaige is often considered his most philosophical work.
The King of Masks (1996)
A rave review of Wu Tianming's film about an artist and child finding each other in this moving Chinese tale.
A rave review of Wu Tianming's film about an artist and child finding each other in this moving Chinese tale.
Raise the Red Lantern
The lavish film that made Gong Li a superstar.
The lavish film that made Gong Li a superstar.
Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker (1995)
He Ping's tale of lethal turn-of-the-century sexism and repression.
He Ping's tale of lethal turn-of-the-century sexism and repression.
Shanghai Triad (1995)
Zhang Yimou's epic tale of greed, revenge and lust for power set against the Shanghai opium wars of the 1930's.
Zhang Yimou's epic tale of greed, revenge and lust for power set against the Shanghai opium wars of the 1930's.
Shower
A bittersweet comedy set in Beijing by Zhang Yang.
A bittersweet comedy set in Beijing by Zhang Yang.
Springtime In a Small Town
Tian Zhuanghzhuang's remake of Fei Mu's classic melodrama tells the story about a sickly landowner whose lovely, dissatisfied wife finds her passion reawakened by the return of an lover who is also her husband's oldest friend.
Tian Zhuanghzhuang's remake of Fei Mu's classic melodrama tells the story about a sickly landowner whose lovely, dissatisfied wife finds her passion reawakened by the return of an lover who is also her husband's oldest friend.
The Story of Qiu Ju
Boston Review critique of Zhang Yimou's latest film, by Alan A. Stone.
Boston Review critique of Zhang Yimou's latest film, by Alan A. Stone.
Temptress Moon (1996)
Chen Cage's seductive film was banned in its own country of origin. Starring Leslie Cheung and Gong Li.
Chen Cage's seductive film was banned in its own country of origin. Starring Leslie Cheung and Gong Li.
The Wedding Banquet (1993)
Long before "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and American independents, Ang Lee directed this film about a gay Chinese man trying to please his parents.
Long before "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and American independents, Ang Lee directed this film about a gay Chinese man trying to please his parents.
Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl
This story of love during the Cultural Revolution is banned in China. Joan Chen's directorial debut.
This story of love during the Cultural Revolution is banned in China. Joan Chen's directorial debut.
100 Greatest Chinese Films of the 20th Century
A great list selected by Asia Weekly Magazine.
A great list selected by Asia Weekly Magazine.