Der chinesische Film

China is one of the most diverse and productive – albeit often underestimated – film nations in the world. The history of Mandarin-language cinema ranges from early local Peking opera films from the late Chinese imperial era to the anti-colonial and socially oriented cinema of the Republic of China period between 1912 and 1949. It tells the story of politically conformist, yet often aesthetically rich works of socialist realism under the rule of Mao Zedong. With the onset of reform policies in the late 1970s, it ultimately gave way to an unparalleled wealth of stories and images, as well as a profound cinematic reflection of Chinese cultures, through which Chinese cinema carved out its place in the global film landscape. It also looks at a thematically and aesthetically broad art cinema, with which filmmakers continue to resist mass production for globally operating streaming services in the 21st century.