Film industry pays tribute to China's reform and opening up

The Shanghai Film Distribution and Exhibition Association and the Changning District Cultural Bureau are hosting a grand film exhibition to commemorate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up.

The exhibition will run till the end of December. A total of 40 locally produced movies will be screened at 25 theaters around the city. All these movies reflect the eye-catching development and achievements of the Shanghai film industry over the past 40 years.

The movies have been selected by filmmakers from a variety of generations. They cover a wide range of genres, including drama, biographical and documentary. 

With diverse perspectives, they record the vicissitudes of the country since the reform and opening-up policy was rolled out in 1978.

Among the movies are classics by celebrated filmmakers, award-winning pictures and creative attempts by young directors. Many of these classic movies have been digitally restored for a better cinema experience. 

The three-month exhibition will also invite film directors, critics and scholars to have talks with audience ahead of some of the screenings. They will exchange their opinions about the film and help audience understand the film’s backdrop and artistry.

According to the exhibition’s organizers, Chinese cinema has had tremendous development over the passing decades. A lot of excellent and inspiring films have emerged.

The exhibition will display film master Xie Jin’s classic film “The Herdsman,” biographical film “Zou Bihua,” Hong Kong director Ann Hui’s drama film “American Grandson,” Zhang Jianya’s disaster film “Crash Landing” and an action-packed adventure film “Animal World.” 

Documentary film lovers will be presented “The Verse of Us” and “Still Tomorrow.”

“The Verse of Us” is a documentary film about the lives of six migrant workers. 

“Still Tomorrow” points its lens at the life of Chinese female poet Yu Xiuhua, who has written several thousand poems despite cerebral palsy. After rising to fame, Yu divorced her husband, who she didn’t love, in pursuit of happiness and freedom.

Several works by famous director Jia Zhangke will also be exhibited, including the Golden Lion winner “Still Life,” “Mountains May Depart” and “Ash Is Purest White.”

“Ash Is Purest White,” the latest offering of Jia, is a crime love story about a couple that transcends 17 years. 

The realistic film also shows the rapid changes of cities in China and the complexity of humanity.

Info

Date: Through December 30, Saturday-Sunday, 10:30, 1:30pm

Major venue: Tianshan Cinema

Address: 888 Tianshan Rd