Filmmakers from China excel at drawing inspiration both from successful movie industries of other countries and local culture and history. This leads to an amazingly diverse landscape of Chinese cinema. Action movies, dramas, comedies – you name it, the essence of each genre is masterfully extracted and reimagined in thousands of movies made in China annually.

When talking of the country’s filmmaking, however, you can’t help but mention a local genre called wuxia. It has to do with martial arts, swordplay, and the neglect of the laws of physics, which makes the fight scenes all the more breathtaking.

Among the recent eye-catching wuxia films is Shadow (2018) by prominent director Zhang Yimou. I feel like just looking at a couple of stills or posters for this movie is enough to make you want to see it, at least if you like the monochrome color scheme. Those who put visuals first will love it, as will those who prefer movies that keep you on the edge of your seat. 

In case you prioritize the emotional aspect and feel like empathizing with main characters, check out Better Days (2019), a drama about bullying, teenage struggles, and overcoming it all as an adult. At times heartbreaking, but ultimately – heartwarming, it won’t leave anyone unimpressed.

Current & upcoming screenings in St. Petersburg

Among the Chinese movies you have a chance to check out on the big screen right now is Black Dog (2024), a Cannes Film Festival prize-winning movie about two outcasts, a man and a stray dog, surviving on the streets of a half-abandoned town.

Moreover, this weekend, on September 7th, the movie festival Contemporary Cinema of China will begin in St. Petersburg. Over the course of five days, you’ll get the chance to see carefully chosen films of different genres (in Mandarin with Russian subtitles), from wuxia to thriller, shot in recent years. Whether you have an opportunity to go or not, we hope that our suggestions will inspire you to see for yourself what Chinese cinema is all about.