China's 40 Years: Ups and downs of Chinese films

Milestones along the way

In 1979, when China had just entered a new era with reform and opening-up, a number of dubbed films were brought back to the theaters. It was a visual feast for Chinese people who were virtually deprived of films in the decade that preceded the policy.

Cinema admissions hit 29 billion, meaning on average a person visited the movie theater 28 times per year –a record that stands unchallenged to this day.

Meanwhile, a number of Chinese directors, with their creativity now stimulated and horizon widened, embraced the new era with a variety of new ideas, styles and artistic expressions.

Adopting Western theories and combining them with Chinese aesthetics and philosophical thoughts, several generations of Chinese directors carved their names in the history of Chinese film. Some of them have gone on to enjoy international fame