George S. Semsel

Chinese Film is the first book to deal with film in the People's Republic of China since the cultural revolution ended. Throughout the book, the editor has expertly selected articles and interviews with filmmakers which will give western readers a reasonable view of how films are made, and their impact in contemporary China. Indeed, the interviews themselves capture the atmosphere that pervades the industry. The filmmakers come from a wide range of experience and interest, yet all agree that Chinese film is at an aesthetic breakthrough. Besides examining the current state of the film industry, Semsel includes works from the best young Chinese film scholars. He also covers film education, financing, distribution, exhibition, and more.

The State of the Art in the People's Republic

Chinese Film

Xia Hong

Hou Jianping

This is the first collection of translations of Chinese film theory to be published in English. By using translations rather than summaries, as other works have done, Chinese Film Theory provides readers with an introduction to the issues current in China's film circles. It includes eighteen chapters written by a broad range of writers--from well established scholars to young people at the beginning of their involvement in film in China. This collection indicates a trend away from the study of external qualities of film and toward a study of the film itself. The volume has been carefully organized so that major issues are interrelated; thus, the book comprises an ongoing debate of film theory issues, progressing from earlier to most recent issues, following the debate concerning the relationship of film to literary arts, and looking at the debate over the relationship of film to culture. The book concludes that for the time being, debate has virtually ended because of the political situation in China. This book is an important new source to anyone interested in film studies, film theory, or Chinese studies.

George S. Semsel

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