Chinese Cinema
Alice's collection of Chinese films is growing as the film industry there expands and begins to embrace an ever-increasing international audience. Films from China are often marked by great craft and attention to detail, and the stories are involved and often carry a political subtext. Though we have very little that is pre-1990, there is everything here from engaging personal stories to sweeping historical epics.
Pictured: Maggie Cheung in the stylized and breath-takingly beautiful 'Hero' from master craftsman Zhang Yimou.
The Story of Qiu Ju (1992)
7.6/10
Director: Zhang Yimou
Starring: Gong Li, Lei Lao Sheng, Ge Zhi Jun, Lui Pei Qi
In this beautiful and humourous film from the acclaimed director of 'Raise the Red Lantern', a peasant woman takes on the Chinese legal system when he... Read more
The Warlords (2007)
7.1/10
Director: Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Starring: Jet Li, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Jinglei Xu
Far from the stylistic martial arts pics of recent times, this unrelentingly violent historical epic set during the Qing Dynasty of the late 19th cent... Read more
The Warlords ( Blu-ray ) (2007)
7.1/10
Director: Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Starring: Andy Lau, Jet Li, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Jinglei Xu
Far from the stylistic martial arts pics of recent times, this unrelentingly violent historical epic set during the Qing Dynasty of the late 19th cent... Read more
The Wild Goose Lake (2019)
6.9/10
Director: Yi'nan Diao
Starring: Ge Hu
A gangster on the run sacrifices everything for his family and a woman he meets while on the lam. Read more
The World (2004)
7.1/10
Director: Jia Zhang-ke
Starring: Zhao Tao, Chen Taisheng, Jue Jing, Zhong-wei Jiang, Yi-qun Wang
Set in the massive theme park outside Beijing where famous world landmarks are recreated, this beautiful allegorical film (and ironic given the endles... Read more
Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon (2008)
6.2/10
Director: Daniel Lee
Starring: Andy Lau, Sammo Hung, Maggie Q, Vanness Wu
Set in ancient China at a time when the Empire was divided between three powers, the Kingdom of Wei, the Kingdom of Shu, and the Kingdom of Wu, "Three... Read more
To Live (1994)
8.3/10
Director: Zhang Yimou
Starring: Ge You, Gong Li, Niu Ben, Guo Tao, Jiang Wu
This stirring film follows a married couple as their fortunes rise and fall, through several decades of Chinese life, from the 1940s onward. Ge You, G... Read more
Together (2002)
7.4/10
Director: Chen Kaige
Starring: Tang Yun, Liu Peiqi, Chen Hong, Wang Zhiwen, Chen Kaige
Moving drama from director Chen Kaige ("Farewell My Concubine") centers on a 13-year-old violin prodigy whose father takes him from their small provin... Read more
Together With You (2002)
7.3/10
Director: Kaige Chen
A violin prodigy and his father travel to Beijing, where the father seeks the means to his son's success while the son struggles to accept the path la... Read more
Unknown Pleasures / Xiao Wu (2002)
Director: Jia Zhang-ke
Starring: Zhao Tao, Zhou Qing Feng, Zhao Wei Wei, Wu Qiong, Wang Hong Wei
Two films from acclaimed director Jia Zhang-Ke take a look at contemporary China, its inequalities, direction and disaffected urban youth. 'Unknown Pl... Read more