A big problem was that the market severely lacked movies to screen for days, weeks, and even months at a time, as movie studios and distributors stood by and watched amid the pandemic, delaying and hesitating tentpole film releases due to ongoing uncertainties and a fear of losing money. There was also frequent marketing chaos, with many studios having very little time to promote their films before they hit theaters and others withdrawing from the market abruptly altogether due to various reasons.
In addition, foreign films, especially Hollywood blockbusters, were either absent or failed in the Chinese market due to numerous factors, including the ongoing pandemic, controversial material, negative reviews, uneven streaming arrangements, and production and release delays.
Despite those complications, the worst days seem to be over as we enter 2023, with the country loosening restrictions for cinemas. In a boon, "Avatar: The Way of Water" was imported into the Chinese market, which has so far contributed more than $100 million to its worldwide box office total. Chinese filmmakers and executives now look to the next year to restore the confidence and content supply. Here, China.org.cn looks back at the 10 Chinese films to be remembered in 2022 amid a backdrop of many hardships.
1. "Snipers"
Despite being busy working on the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, China's most esteemed and prolific film director Zhang Yimou still managed a two-month leave to shoot "Snipers" in early 2021 alongside his daughter and emerging director Zhang Mo as co-director. The film stars Zhang Yu, Chen Yongsheng, Zhang Yi, and numerous up-and-coming actors, and is a fast-paced, simple, breathtaking, and heart-wrenching but heroic story depicting Chinese sharpshooters in their fight against elite enemy snipers to win a small-scale but crucial battle. Though it features relatively contained visuals and more muted action scenes compared to other war epics, audiences were deeply touched and inspired by Zhang's latest, demonstrating how masterful a director he still is and how he continues to challenge himself and bring new facets to Chinese filmmaking.
Liu Jiangjiang's directorial debut, "Lighting Up The Stars," was a surprise in 2022. The tear-filled, down-to-earth family drama, starring movie star Zhu Yilong and child star Yang Enyou, tells of a mortician who meets an orphan who has just lost her grandma, bringing about unexpected changes to his life and attitude. This brave production proved that despite unusual themes and adversity, such films can still have heart. The story brought warmth to the people despite such a cold and somehow ominous subject, helping the audience understand more about life and death and inspiring them to live and cherish life in the present.
Billed as the first film to be told from Chinese diplomats' perspectives, the Rao Xiaozhi-directed "Home Coming" tells of how two unarmed Chinese diplomats that lose contact with the Chinese embassy lead 125 Chinese citizens to embark on an exodus to return to China through chaos, riots, battlefields, and the desert in a fictional country in North Africa. Starring veteran actor Zhang Yi and heartthrob Wang Junkai, the film was inspired by a real evacuation in Libya in 2011, when the Chinese embassy evacuated more than 30,000 Chinese nationals over 12 days. The movie is an eye-opening work that demonstrates how Chinese diplomats working in extreme environments have to overcome various dangers and challenges to protect their overseas compatriots. Though lacking the explosive action scenes found in other blockbusters about rescues and evacuations, it was actor Zhang Yi's multi-layered acting genius, the solid performances of his supporting actors, a tight script, and its tense and tearjerking plot that captured audiences' imaginations.
"Nice View" is an inspirational entrepreneurial saga marking the second outing by talented young director Wen Muye, who previously made the critically acclaimed 2018 blockbuster "Dying to Survive." Starring Jackson Yee, Chen Halin, Tian Yu, and Qi Xi, the film portrays the struggles of several unprivileged people in Shenzhen, one of the country's most dynamic, competitive, and innovative cities. The story centers around the difficult but humble lives of 20-year-old Jing Hao and his younger sister. Facing setbacks while trying to pay for his sister's expensive surgery, Jing manages to start up a business with friends through great effort and perseverance, shouldering his responsibilities to give his family a better life. The film conveys that happiness is not just about success but demonstrates how through family and love, miracles can happen to anybody who works hard and never gives up. The film was even selected as the Chinese submission for the best international feature film at the 2023 Oscars.
The sequel to China's highest-grossing film of all time, officially titled "The Battle at Lake Changjin: Watergate Bridge," was one that could not be ignored. Starring the original iconic cast of Wu Jing and Jackson Yee as well as its crew, including producers Huang Jianxin and Yu Dong, the movie was shot back-to-back with the first film before being divided into two parts due to the abundant content shot variously by three directors. Hong Kong film wizard Tsui Hark directed 90% of the content and earned sole directing credit for the sequel, while the previous installment's collaborating directors, Chen Kaige and Dante Lam, take credit as executive producers this time around. The latest film picks up where its record-breaking predecessor left off, telling even more heroic stories and the final fate of the Chinese soldiers in their journey after the epic battle at Lake Changjin. While no less explosive and emotional, "Watergate Bridge" is smaller in scale, focusing on a single vital battle. Nevertheless, it inspired audiences once again via the retelling of their forefathers' patriotism with sacrifices, eventually grossing a stunning 4.07 billion yuan, making it the no. 1 film in 2022 and the eighth highest-growing film ever in China. Combined with the first film, this two-part story has now grossed more than 9.84 billion yuan, a milestone in Chinese film history.
"Song of Spring" tells the touching story of an 85-year-old mother who has to care for her 65-year-old daughter when she is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a little-covered subject in Chinese film. As the latest directorial outing of female indie filmmaker Yang Lina, "Song of Spring" takes on a more realistic edge thanks to her background in documentary filmmaking, including the critically acclaimed "Old Men" and "The Love Story of Lao An." Two Chinese veteran actresses, Wu Yanshu, 84, and Xi Meijuan, 67, play the mother and daughter, respectively. The two women deliver outstanding performances and won numerous awards for their portrayals, including the Tiantan Award for best actress for Wu at the 2022 Beijing International Film Festival and the best actress award for Xi at the 35th Golden Rooster Awards. Most importantly, the film sheds light on Alzheimer's disease and the care sufferers require, giving it significant social value.
"Table for Six," directed by unconventional director Sunny Chan and starring Hong Kong's top local stand-up comedian Dayo Wong, follows three half-siblings who meet up at a family reunion. The siblings are shocked to discover that the eldest brother's ex-girlfriend is now dating the middle brother. Worse still, the siblings uncover many more secrets throughout the reunion, and comedic disaster ensues. The Hong Kong romantic comedy was a pleasant surprise this year thanks to its hilarious and exquisite but down-to-earth Hong Kong style. It was also a box office hit in its local market, grossing HK$77 million to become the biggest-grossing Chinese comedy ever in the region. It is worth adding here that another Hong Kong film, "Warriors of Future," also made box office history, becoming the highest-grossing Chinese film of all time in the Hong Kong market, raking in HK$82 million in total, a breakthrough for sci-fi films. However, when compared to its stunning visual effects and action scenes, the script of this latter film left a lot to be desired.
The sci-fi comedy film "Moon Man" is much more than just another comedy flick. The one-man space fantasia tells of one man's struggle to survive on the moon as he watches an asteroid hit Earth, believing he is the last human being in the universe. Though he focussed on creating an expensive sci-fi production, director Zhang Chiyu, from China's famous comedy school of Mahua FunAge, made sure not to neglect the comedic and human side of his story, exploring the desperation, dilemmas, and heroism shared by people. Starring comedy megastars Shen Teng and Ma Li, as well as an impressive CGI space kangaroo, the film mirrors the ironies in life, allowing its titular characters to eventually find redemption. The film, which gave people a chance to laugh during such a tough year, made a phenomenal 3.1 billion yuan at China's box office, helping it become the second highest-grossing film in 2022 and no. 14 of all time.
Yang Jian, also known as Erlang Shen, is a well-known three-eye mythological figure in Chinese folklore. "New Gods: Yang Jian" therefore pays homage to previous TV and film interpretations of this tale, such as "Lotus Lantern," with director Zhao Ji and his team also giving a new spin on this mythic icon. Namely, recasting him as a handsome bounty hunter and superhero safeguarding the peace in a steampunk fantasy world with stunning, beautiful visuals that reimagine traditional Chinese architecture. The film also tastefully recreates a flying dance by immortals inspired by the famous Dunhuang murals at the Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Gansu province. The animated feature felt impressive, broke fresh ground for Chinese animation, and innovatively retold a traditional Chinese story – demonstrating how to present China's profound ancient culture to worldwide audiences.
After his 2007 cult classic "Mad Detective," veteran Hong Kong actor Sean Lau once again played a crazy cop in director Wai Ka-Fai's latest crime thriller effort "Detective vs. Sleuths." Lau plays the protagonist Jun Lee, a former detective who has a supernatural gift that allows him to see haunting and horrifying illusions that predict the future. Racing against time, he and a pregnant police detective attempt to hunt down a serial killer while having to fight off a group of terrorist-style vigilantes. While Lau's multi-layered performance amazed audiences, the entertaining plot was also full of suspense, large action set pieces, gun fights, and delved into deeper, more thought-provoking humanistic themes. As such, this classic-style Hong Kong film truly showcased the charm of Hong Kong cinema and was well-received in the mainland, grossing 712 million yuan.
Despite being busy working on the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, China's most esteemed and prolific film director Zhang Yimou still managed a two-month leave to shoot "Snipers" in early 2021 alongside his daughter and emerging director Zhang Mo as co-director. The film stars Zhang Yu, Chen Yongsheng, Zhang Yi, and numerous up-and-coming actors, and is a fast-paced, simple, breathtaking, and heart-wrenching but heroic story depicting Chinese sharpshooters in their fight against elite enemy snipers to win a small-scale but crucial battle. Though it features relatively contained visuals and more muted action scenes compared to other war epics, audiences were deeply touched and inspired by Zhang's latest, demonstrating how masterful a director he still is and how he continues to challenge himself and bring new facets to Chinese filmmaking. 2. "Lighting Up The Stars"
Liu Jiangjiang's directorial debut, "Lighting Up The Stars," was a surprise in 2022. The tear-filled, down-to-earth family drama, starring movie star Zhu Yilong and child star Yang Enyou, tells of a mortician who meets an orphan who has just lost her grandma, bringing about unexpected changes to his life and attitude. This brave production proved that despite unusual themes and adversity, such films can still have heart. The story brought warmth to the people despite such a cold and somehow ominous subject, helping the audience understand more about life and death and inspiring them to live and cherish life in the present. 3. "Home Coming"
Billed as the first film to be told from Chinese diplomats' perspectives, the Rao Xiaozhi-directed "Home Coming" tells of how two unarmed Chinese diplomats that lose contact with the Chinese embassy lead 125 Chinese citizens to embark on an exodus to return to China through chaos, riots, battlefields, and the desert in a fictional country in North Africa. Starring veteran actor Zhang Yi and heartthrob Wang Junkai, the film was inspired by a real evacuation in Libya in 2011, when the Chinese embassy evacuated more than 30,000 Chinese nationals over 12 days. The movie is an eye-opening work that demonstrates how Chinese diplomats working in extreme environments have to overcome various dangers and challenges to protect their overseas compatriots. Though lacking the explosive action scenes found in other blockbusters about rescues and evacuations, it was actor Zhang Yi's multi-layered acting genius, the solid performances of his supporting actors, a tight script, and its tense and tearjerking plot that captured audiences' imaginations.4. "Nice View"
"Nice View" is an inspirational entrepreneurial saga marking the second outing by talented young director Wen Muye, who previously made the critically acclaimed 2018 blockbuster "Dying to Survive." Starring Jackson Yee, Chen Halin, Tian Yu, and Qi Xi, the film portrays the struggles of several unprivileged people in Shenzhen, one of the country's most dynamic, competitive, and innovative cities. The story centers around the difficult but humble lives of 20-year-old Jing Hao and his younger sister. Facing setbacks while trying to pay for his sister's expensive surgery, Jing manages to start up a business with friends through great effort and perseverance, shouldering his responsibilities to give his family a better life. The film conveys that happiness is not just about success but demonstrates how through family and love, miracles can happen to anybody who works hard and never gives up. The film was even selected as the Chinese submission for the best international feature film at the 2023 Oscars. 5. "The Battle at Lake Changjin II"
The sequel to China's highest-grossing film of all time, officially titled "The Battle at Lake Changjin: Watergate Bridge," was one that could not be ignored. Starring the original iconic cast of Wu Jing and Jackson Yee as well as its crew, including producers Huang Jianxin and Yu Dong, the movie was shot back-to-back with the first film before being divided into two parts due to the abundant content shot variously by three directors. Hong Kong film wizard Tsui Hark directed 90% of the content and earned sole directing credit for the sequel, while the previous installment's collaborating directors, Chen Kaige and Dante Lam, take credit as executive producers this time around. The latest film picks up where its record-breaking predecessor left off, telling even more heroic stories and the final fate of the Chinese soldiers in their journey after the epic battle at Lake Changjin. While no less explosive and emotional, "Watergate Bridge" is smaller in scale, focusing on a single vital battle. Nevertheless, it inspired audiences once again via the retelling of their forefathers' patriotism with sacrifices, eventually grossing a stunning 4.07 billion yuan, making it the no. 1 film in 2022 and the eighth highest-growing film ever in China. Combined with the first film, this two-part story has now grossed more than 9.84 billion yuan, a milestone in Chinese film history.6. "Song of Spring"
"Song of Spring" tells the touching story of an 85-year-old mother who has to care for her 65-year-old daughter when she is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a little-covered subject in Chinese film. As the latest directorial outing of female indie filmmaker Yang Lina, "Song of Spring" takes on a more realistic edge thanks to her background in documentary filmmaking, including the critically acclaimed "Old Men" and "The Love Story of Lao An." Two Chinese veteran actresses, Wu Yanshu, 84, and Xi Meijuan, 67, play the mother and daughter, respectively. The two women deliver outstanding performances and won numerous awards for their portrayals, including the Tiantan Award for best actress for Wu at the 2022 Beijing International Film Festival and the best actress award for Xi at the 35th Golden Rooster Awards. Most importantly, the film sheds light on Alzheimer's disease and the care sufferers require, giving it significant social value. 7. "Table for Six"
"Table for Six," directed by unconventional director Sunny Chan and starring Hong Kong's top local stand-up comedian Dayo Wong, follows three half-siblings who meet up at a family reunion. The siblings are shocked to discover that the eldest brother's ex-girlfriend is now dating the middle brother. Worse still, the siblings uncover many more secrets throughout the reunion, and comedic disaster ensues. The Hong Kong romantic comedy was a pleasant surprise this year thanks to its hilarious and exquisite but down-to-earth Hong Kong style. It was also a box office hit in its local market, grossing HK$77 million to become the biggest-grossing Chinese comedy ever in the region. It is worth adding here that another Hong Kong film, "Warriors of Future," also made box office history, becoming the highest-grossing Chinese film of all time in the Hong Kong market, raking in HK$82 million in total, a breakthrough for sci-fi films. However, when compared to its stunning visual effects and action scenes, the script of this latter film left a lot to be desired.8. "Moon Man"
The sci-fi comedy film "Moon Man" is much more than just another comedy flick. The one-man space fantasia tells of one man's struggle to survive on the moon as he watches an asteroid hit Earth, believing he is the last human being in the universe. Though he focussed on creating an expensive sci-fi production, director Zhang Chiyu, from China's famous comedy school of Mahua FunAge, made sure not to neglect the comedic and human side of his story, exploring the desperation, dilemmas, and heroism shared by people. Starring comedy megastars Shen Teng and Ma Li, as well as an impressive CGI space kangaroo, the film mirrors the ironies in life, allowing its titular characters to eventually find redemption. The film, which gave people a chance to laugh during such a tough year, made a phenomenal 3.1 billion yuan at China's box office, helping it become the second highest-grossing film in 2022 and no. 14 of all time.9. "New Gods: Yang Jian"
Yang Jian, also known as Erlang Shen, is a well-known three-eye mythological figure in Chinese folklore. "New Gods: Yang Jian" therefore pays homage to previous TV and film interpretations of this tale, such as "Lotus Lantern," with director Zhao Ji and his team also giving a new spin on this mythic icon. Namely, recasting him as a handsome bounty hunter and superhero safeguarding the peace in a steampunk fantasy world with stunning, beautiful visuals that reimagine traditional Chinese architecture. The film also tastefully recreates a flying dance by immortals inspired by the famous Dunhuang murals at the Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Gansu province. The animated feature felt impressive, broke fresh ground for Chinese animation, and innovatively retold a traditional Chinese story – demonstrating how to present China's profound ancient culture to worldwide audiences.10. "Detective vs. Sleuths"
After his 2007 cult classic "Mad Detective," veteran Hong Kong actor Sean Lau once again played a crazy cop in director Wai Ka-Fai's latest crime thriller effort "Detective vs. Sleuths." Lau plays the protagonist Jun Lee, a former detective who has a supernatural gift that allows him to see haunting and horrifying illusions that predict the future. Racing against time, he and a pregnant police detective attempt to hunt down a serial killer while having to fight off a group of terrorist-style vigilantes. While Lau's multi-layered performance amazed audiences, the entertaining plot was also full of suspense, large action set pieces, gun fights, and delved into deeper, more thought-provoking humanistic themes. As such, this classic-style Hong Kong film truly showcased the charm of Hong Kong cinema and was well-received in the mainland, grossing 712 million yuan.Source: China.org.cn by Zhang Rui, January 1, 2023
