Chinese films are often brightly colorful, artistic, and action-packed. Like American films, they encompass many genres, including grand epics, action films, period and modern dramas, and much more. These films may not depict the China that you will experience, but you'll enjoy them, and can chat about them with your new Chinese friends!

Filmfinder

The UNC-Chapel Hill Media Resources Center's Filmfinder makes it easy to find Chinese films, both classic and modern. Choose "China" in the Origin box. You can narrow your search by genre, date, and other criteria.

 

 

Chinese Film Web Sites

Numerous Web resources can help you learn about Chinese films. Here are two:

The Chinese Movie Database provides lists of casts and crew, popularity ratings, and often still images from thousands of new and classic Chinese films. You can search by actors and titles, as well as awards, dates, and genres. The list of "Top 10 Chinese Movies" along the left side may interest you. Many of these movies have remained extremely popular for 15 years or more.

The University of California at San Diego runs a Chinese Cinema Web-based Learning Center. Visit the center's site to see statistics, lists, and cinema links. You can also read through syllabi from UCSD's Chinese Cinema courses if you'd like to make a serious study.

Wikipedia's article on the Cinema of China discusses the history of Chinese movie-making, from 1896 to the present. Critics believe that Chinese cinema has gone through six "generations;" the conventions of each are discussed here. The article also provides links to numerous related Wikipedia articles and external Web sites.

 

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