The ChiÂnese film indusÂtry began around the turn of the 20th cenÂtuÂry, but unforÂtuÂnateÂly nothÂing surÂvives of those first two decades–films lost to fire, to age, and just plain lost. Any perÂson wantÂiÂng to study this hisÂtoÂry must make do with synÂopses, phoÂtos, and imagÂiÂnaÂtion. HowÂevÂer, after that? This YouTube playlist curatÂed by the DepartÂment of Asian StudÂies of the UniÂverÂsiÂty of British ColumÂbia feaÂtures a dozen notable films and influÂenÂtial clasÂsics from two and half decades of ChiÂnese hisÂtoÂry, some of the most tumulÂtuous years for that nation. ChiÂna oustÂed the British, fought off the JapanÂese, and began a revÂoÂluÂtion under Mao. The print qualÂiÂty varies here and there, but all are enterÂtainÂing, from musiÂcals to horÂror movies to social draÂmas.
The colÂlecÂtion begins with the oldÂest surÂvivÂing film in the series, Labourer’s Love, a two-reelÂer from 1922 directÂed by Zhang Shichuan. Most of the origÂiÂnal ChiÂnese filmÂmakÂers were trained by AmerÂiÂcans, so earÂly shorts like this tendÂed to be silent comeÂdies filled with visuÂal gags–this one feaÂtures a carÂpenÂter who opens up a fruit stand to woo a woman, and uses his woodÂworkÂing skills and tools to increase his busiÂness.
By the late 20s howÂevÂer, ChiÂna was already develÂopÂing its own genÂres and styles, just as it was develÂopÂing a modÂern nationÂalÂist pride away from coloÂnial influÂence. The first marÂtial arts film would be proÂduced in 1928. OthÂer stuÂdios optÂed for folkÂlore tales or famÂiÂly meloÂdraÂmas.
Trained and eduÂcatÂed in the UnitÂed StatÂed, Sun Yu was one of the major filmÂmakÂers of the 1930s (a group of direcÂtors known as the SecÂond GenÂerÂaÂtion filmÂmakÂers) until the invaÂsion of Japan sent him fleeÂing ShangÂhai for the inteÂriÂor. But the films he made for the leftÂist film stuÂdio LianÂhua are now clasÂsics. Three of his are repÂreÂsentÂed here: 1933’s DayÂbreak, a tale of a young counÂtry couÂple who get corÂruptÂed in the big city; Queen of Sports, a 1934 draÂma of a plucky track star who has to navÂiÂgate class stratas as well as comÂpeÂtiÂtions; and maybe Sun Yu’s most famous film The Big Road (above), a stoÂry of six young men buildÂing a road for the ChiÂnese army to batÂtle the JapanÂese. Yes, it’s wartime proÂpaÂganÂda, but Sun Yu was always focused on workÂing men and women. These three films also star Li Lili, conÂsidÂered by some to be the “ChiÂnese Mae West,” and who lived to a ripe age (as did Sun Yu). She has a role in StanÂley Kwan’s CenÂter Stage from 1992, his ode to the movie stars of the 1930s.
China’s first horÂror film is also in this list: 1937’s Song at MidÂnight, Ma-Xu Weibang’s retelling of PhanÂtom of the Opera (with a bit of FrankenÂstein thrown in–the UniÂverÂsal StuÂdios influÂence is very apparÂent here). It’s also a musiÂcal, with karaoke-like subs for you to sing along if you know CanÂtonese.
LastÂly, Fei Mu’s Spring in a Small Town from 1947 is one of the most influÂenÂtial on this list. A sickÂly man’s friend visÂits in the afterÂmath of the Sino-JapanÂese war, and the wife recÂogÂnizes him as a lover from long ago. RomanÂtic tenÂsions soon begin to smolÂder. Wong Kar-Wai’s In the Mood for Love borÂrowed its repressed, longÂing mood. And filmÂmakÂer Tian Zhuangzhaung remade it in 2002, keepÂing the origÂiÂnal setÂting. Many ChiÂnese filmÂmakÂers and critÂics conÂsidÂer it one of the best of all time, China’s CasablanÂca.
HopeÂfulÂly this dozen will whet your appetite for more ChiÂnese cinÂeÂma and proÂvide an alterÂnaÂtive to watchÂing anothÂer binge-worÂthy but shalÂlow NetÂflix series.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
Ted Mills is a freeÂlance writer on the arts who curÂrentÂly hosts the Notes from the Shed podÂcast and is the proÂducÂer of KCRÂW’s CuriÂous Coast. You can also folÂlow him on TwitÂter at @tedmills, and/or watch his films here.
There’s a hand on the shoulÂder of the woman in front right hand row