Chinese cinema tries new plots, innovation to sharpen its image

Word-of-mouth winners

Women comprised 58 percent of all moviegoers last year, an 11 percent increase from the proportion in 2023.This gender shift in viewership has set the stage for a rise in films focused on women and delving into feminist themes, as indicated in a report co-released by the China Film Association and Beacon.

As the most successful films in this category, Her Story was director Shao Yihui's second feature depicting independent women in modern society. It received a score of 9.1 points out of 10 on the review aggregator Douban, making it one of the highest-rated Chinese films of the year.

Centered around three unconventional female characters, the film boldly delves into women's perspectives on sex, and confronts societal taboos surrounding menstruation with a light and humorous approach.

A dark horse in cinema earnings, the film topped China's single-day box office charts for 24 consecutive days. With earnings of 715 million yuan, it became the highest-grossing film in November, surpassing British director Ridley Scott's sword-and-sandal epic Gladiator II, and Disney's animated film Moana 2.

Other women-centric films garnering acclaim through word-of-mouth included Like a Rolling Stone, based on the true story of a woman in her 50s who courageously leaves her abusive husband to embark on a cross-country road trip, and Chinatown Cha-Cha, a documentary that follows a group of senior dancers from San Francisco's Chinese nightclub scene.

"As these acclaimed films by female directors depicting women's issues emerge, the plights and struggles of women can be seen by more people, giving the movies a richer social significance," said Zhi.

Scoring 9.3 points on Douban, the highest rating among all Chinese films this year, The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru stands out as the most popular documentary of 2024. Directed by Fang Li over an eight-year period, the film chronicles his investigations into a tragic incident during World War II — the sinking of a Japanese ship carrying 1,816 British prisoners of war, which was torpedoed by a United States submarine in 1942.

The film won the Best Documentary at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards and was selected as China's entry to compete in the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards.

Rao, from the China Film Critics Association, said the film is inspirational, showcasing that an excellent documentary is not only a window to revisit history or observe contemporary life, but can also play a pivotal role in boosting the diversity of the domestic film market.

"During the post-pandemic era, the market is confronted with a generation of young audiences who are more accustomed to consuming video content on the internet. Chinese filmmakers should refine their storytelling skills and elevate their artistic creations to produce higher-quality work. I believe that Chinese cinema has a promising future with new talent," said Rao.