The Chinese Independent Cinema In the Post Tiananmen Era

Directed by Chen Xinzhong

The rise of independent cinema in China occurred after the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident. Filmmakers such as Zhang Yuan, Wu Wenguang, Wang Xiaoshuai, Jia Zhangke, and others emerged as representatives of this movement. Over the course of more than a decade, from the 1990s to the early 21st century, they created a large number of outstanding domestic underground films that had a profound impact on the international film industry. However, in China, these films faced restrictions and were unable to be screened in theaters due to a lack of official approval. This documentary conducts interviews with these representative film directors of that era. Through the lens, these directors express their personal journeys in engaging in the art of filmmaking within a forbidden environment.