TV & film

tv-&-film

Five Pema Tseden 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 leading light of the Tibetan New Wave died this week. His films, from the ultra-realistic “The Silent Holy Stones” to the dreamy “Jinpa,” epitomized Tibetan cinema for a generation.

Liu Qing

The Underground Bands Playing Out China’s Hit TV Show

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

China’s biggest television drama has an unusual soundtrack of obscure bands and moody experimental music — and fans are obsessed.

Yang Caini

A Crazy Labor Day Holiday — But Not For Movies

The long May holiday is an important period for China’s film industry. But this year, moviegoers didn’t seem all that impressed with what was on offer.

Fan Yiying

In Hong Kong, a New Film Mourns a Fading Icon: the City’s Neon Signs

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

For decades, Hong Kong has been synonymous with its gleaming neon street signs. But these icons of the city’s past are now rapidly disappearing — as the hit new film “A Light Never Goes Out” explores.

Mathew Scott

30 Years On, a New ‘Slam Dunk’ Scores Big With Old Fans in China

Blending basketball and friendship, the iconic anime has returned to the big screen, drawing millions of middle-aged fans and breaking box-office records.

Vincent Chow

The Minoritization of a Transnational Superstar

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

VOICES & OPINION

This year’s Oscars confirmed Michelle Yeoh’s global popularity, so why did she feel the need to downplay her transnational background?

Flair Donglai Shi

Chinese TV Drama Normalizes Women Dating Younger Men 

Women dating or marrying men younger than them are usually frowned upon, though such attitudes are gradually shifting.

Li Xin

Chinese ‘Hachiko’ Encourages Moviegoers to Adopt Pets 

The film sheds light on stray dogs that have mostly been abandoned by their owners.

Journalism Movie Hailed as ‘Courageous Start’ Wins Over Audiences 

The Chinese movie is among the latest releases tackling real-life subjects, breaking away from fantasy and romance genres.

Ye Zhanhang

Chinese Women Cheer Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar Win

The 60-year-old’s achievements have led to discussion on the plight of China’s middle-aged actresses struggling to get work due to their age.

Hong Kong TV Company Deploys Stars as Salespeople on Taobao

The television broadcasting company is evoking nostalgia while trying to cash in on the mainland’s e-commerce livestream boom.

What Makes a Good ‘Three-Body’ Adaptation?

Ahead of Netflix’s version, two Chinese adaptations of “The Three-Body Problem,” one live-action, one animated, offer lessons in the importance and pitfalls of staying true to the text.

Kong Degang

How Streaming Went Mainstream in China

Streaming platforms have gone from marketing niche programs aimed at young Chinese to partnering with CCTV on some of the biggest releases of the year.

Wu Changchang

A Chinese Classic Gets a Lovecraftian Twist

By breaking the rules, animator Hu Rui breathed new life into China’s “tales of the strange.”

Chen Silin

The Filmmaker Confronting China’s Ultimate Taboo: Death

Many in China choose to keep serious illnesses to themselves in the name of “protecting” their relatives. But as director Siyi Chen explores in a new film, this secrecy can exact a heavy cost.

Pang Yuhong

Netflix, Disney, Amazon Sue Chinese App for Copyright Violations

Renren Video — the streaming service in question — has faced dozens of similar lawsuits over the years.

User Sues Chinese Streaming Giant iQiyi for Curbing Access

In his lawsuit, the user sought no compensation and said he only wanted the company to lift restrictions on screencasting content at higher resolutions.

A Hit On Screen, ‘The Wandering Earth 2’ Merch Now Flies Off Shelves 

The movie’s official licensor has sold merchandise worth nearly 122 million yuan ($17 million) in just over a week.

Chinese TV Drama Sheds Light on Anti-Corruption 

“The Knockout” makes a rare attempt at critically examining the root of several ills that plague society.

How China’s Favorite Fantasy Realm Faded Into the Background

From “Water Margin” to “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” it was the setting of some of China’s best-loved works of fiction and fantasy. But does anyone still care about the “jianghu”?