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Sino Silver Screen: The Cinemas Are Just Getting Started
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We are officially running out the clock on 2020, and yet, for China's movie industry, the year feels like it hasn't even started. Box offices across mainland China racked up a mere RMB 10 billion after Golden Week, which pales in comparison to their numbers around the same time last year, roughly five times that amount. Nevertheless, the pandemic is under control throughout most cities and audiences are returning to theaters, eager to catch the newest titles – some of which aren't really new, so much as they're finally seeing a release after months of delay. At any rate, here are a few of the films that will be premiering on China's silver screens through the end of November.
Oct 16: 以寡敌众 Widows
A 2018 crime thriller directed by Steve McQueen and starring Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Rodriguez, and Cynthia Erivo, Widows tells the story of four women with little in common, save for the fact that they're all saddled with a debt left behind by their dead husbands' criminal activities. Not to be defined by their spouses' infamy, the women conspire to forge a future on their own terms. As one of the few Hollywood thrillers available in China this year, Widows is a scathing critique of the sexism, racism, gun control policies, and political conspiracies that dominate culture in the US.
Oct 25: 金刚川 Jiingang Chuan
After bringing audiences to tears with his epic film, The Eight Hundred earlier this year, Guan Hu is ready to tug on our heartstrings once again with another piece about war. This time, his focus is on the Korean War, one that has received little coverage – comparatively speaking – but nonetheless profoundly changed Northeast Asia's political landscape to this day.
Among the anime franchises that left an indelible mark on my childhood, Digimon holds a more significant place in my heart than Pokémon for its cyberpunk background, comparably mature plots, and timeless soundtrack. Unlike Satoshi and his Pikachu, the characters in Digimon age, and as they grow into adulthood they have to contend with the same reality that affects all of us such as work and finances, all while bidding farewell to the innocence of childhood and lifelong friendships. To be sure, the newest Digimon installment is a redemptive effort after numerous failures over the years, effectively reclaiming its distinctive charm. For fans both young and old, it's the chance to experience one more adventure full of hope and possibility before slogging through life's next chapter.
Nov 06: 风平浪静 Back to the Wharf
Having premiered at Shanghai Film Festival earlier this year, Back to the Wharf was lauded for its bold attempts to push the boundaries of Chinese crime dramas. Director Li Xiaofeng is doubtlessly attuned to the classics of the genre, which often have fantastical plots, yet his story is decidedly rooted in the mundane, building a suspenseful thriller out of the gaokao, a college entrance exam often regarded as one of the most important life-changing opportunities in the lives of China's youth. Unfortunately, however, for the main character of Back to the Wharf, a stolen identity has dire and irrevocable consequences. Interestingly, the Chinese title of this movie is 风平浪静 Calm Ocean which is an idiom usually followed by “暗流涌动 Invisible trends simmering under the surface."
Nov 27 除暴 Caught in Time
Whereas Back to the Wharf is a thriller sans heavy gunfire and violence, Caught in Time is an action flick for folks who love action flicks. The last decade of the 20th century was a golden age for China's economy, and with it, a golden age for illicit activity. This was also a time before panopticon-style surveillance hit the streets and hi-tech methodologies were de rigeur for criminal investigations, leaving room for bloody rivalries between police and criminal enterprises. With Daniel Wu and Qianyuan Wang playing the two leading characters, it's safe to say that this classic take on the good guy/bad guy genre will be worth checking out.
READ: Looking Forward: Eye Strains and the Importance of Visual Checkups
Images: Jake Hills (via Unsplash), courtesy of corresponding movie production companies
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