TV & film

Girls’ Education Biopic Courts Controversy Over Depiction of Women

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

The film adaptation of the life of popular girls’ educator Zhang Guimei has ignited a social media storm after viewers questioned its portrayal of its female characters, including an alcoholic mother. The film’s female screenwriters have hit back.

Ye Zhanhang

‘Princess Iron Fan’: The Height of Modern Chinese Animation

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

Inspired by Disney’s “Snow White” in 1937, the Wan brothers created the first Chinese animated feature film — still a timeless classic today — during the hardship of World War II.

Tian Jiajia

In ‘Only the River Flows,’ China Gets an Unlikely Arthouse Hit

With its open-ended narrative, this detective film set in the 1990s in rural China invites audiences to draw their own conclusions, sparking debate and interpretations on social media.

Ding Rui

Chinese Reality Show Explores ‘Strong Woman, Weak Man’ Marriages, Sparks Debate

“See You Again” is one of several Chinese reality shows about relationships that focus on the less glamorous side of love and romance.

Actor Sues After Gangster’s Classic TV Lines Used in Video Game

Everyone’s a gangster until a real gangster walks into the room.

He Qitong

Hit New Film Offers a Striking Portrait of Beijing’s Migrant Villages

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

Liang Junjian’s award-winning new documentary “Bitter Sweet Ballad” has shocked viewers with its portrayal of the lives of migrant children in Beijing.

Mathew Scott

How FIRST Became a New Kind of Film Festival

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

The FIRST International Film Festival has made a reputation for itself as a home for rising young filmmakers — and may have surpassed its far bigger and better funded competitors in the process.

Li Yang

What Exactly Is the ‘Dongbei Renaissance’?

Four commentators on how — and why — the country’s northeastern rust belt reached the forefront of Chinese pop culture.

Wu Haiyun

As Nolan Arrives, Chinese Fans React to ‘Oppenheimer’ Release

For devoted Chinese fans of Christopher Nolan, his latest film about the invention of the atomic bomb is another masterpiece. But can the film overcome its controversial subject matter and reach a broad audience in China?

What’s So Funny About China’s Rust Belt?

A short history of the country’s unlikely comedy capital.

Yang Liu

The Missing Link in Northeast China’s Cultural Revival 

Men and their stories have dominated northeastern China’s ongoing cultural revival. But what about the region’s women?

Bai Meijiadai

As Viewers Fret, China Vows to Streamline Fees for OTT Content 

In recent months, netizens have voiced frustration about subscribing to multiple video streaming platforms with overlapping content and additional fees for mobile subscriptions.

Jiang Zuer

Troubled Singing Reality Show Accused of Mistreating Coco Lee

“The Voice of China” has seen ratings suffer in recent years due to a backlash over its rules and advertisements.

‘Chang An’ Reignites Ancient Rivalry Between 2 Chinese Capitals

Luoyang replaced Chang’an, in modern-day Xi’an, as capital several times in Chinese history. However, the hit animated film “Chang An” turns the tables and puts the emphasis on Chang’an, leaving some in Luoyang upset.

‘No More Bets’: China’s New Runaway Hit Film Takes On Online Fraud 

Inspired by thousands of real cases, the movie offers an unparalleled glimpse into the dark world of overseas cyber fraud that has grown rampant in China.

Despite Slow China Start, ‘Barbie’ Sets a Benchmark — For Dating

Since its release last Friday, “Barbie” has grossed around $7 million, far behind domestically produced titles.

Yang Caini

What ‘Chang An’ Gets Right — and Wrong — About China’s Greatest Dynasty

For decades, films set in the Tang dynasty were plagued by Shakespearean pretensions, geisha-inspired makeup, and anachronistic props. ‘Chang An’ dodges those pitfalls, while falling into a few new ones.

Lu Shan

How China’s Greatest Ever Film Was Rescued From Oblivion

Fei Mu’s 1948 masterpiece “Spring in a Small Town” was condemned to obscurity for decades after its release. But 75 years later, it has finally won recognition as the best Chinese film ever made and is receiving a new wave of attention.

Three Xie Jin Films to Watch

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

The popular director of “Hibiscus Town” is the subject of a centennial forum at this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival. But some of his most interesting films remain largely unknown, especially outside China.

Huang Yong

Xie Jin Was Once China’s Most Famous Director. Do His Films Still Matter?

The famed filmmaker, now the subject of a centennial retrospective at the Shanghai Film Festival, trained his lens on ordinary people navigating an era of upheaval.