The exotic world of Chinese cinema

This article marks the Chinese Film Festival currently held in Colombo.

In the course of its glorious history, spanning more than 40 centuries, China has endowed upon mankind a whole series of highly significant artifacts. The ubiquitous writing material-paper-universally consumed in all theatres of human culture, is a Chinese invention. The Chinese adorned human culture, by presenting the art and technique of printing, to mankind. Movable type devised by the Chinese, is among the handful or artifacts that profoundly transformed the cultural progress of the totality of human society.

Over a long period of time, China has made substantial contributions, in the field of entertainment as well.

In the far past, the itinerant Chinese puppeteer travelled around, bearing his mini-puppet-theatre on his head. He would entertain the folk audiences, pulling the strings, concealed within a cloak that extended from head to foot.

Popular forms of entertainment were multifarious.

Form the earliest times, China possessed a widely reputed tradition of imperial entertainment. The exquisitely sophisticated Beijing Opera, has projected the image of China worldwide, as an elitist centre of refined theatrical presentations.

A scene from a film

This form of traditional performance still flourishes, with undiminished vigour and sophistication.

In terms of official history, world cinema was born in April, 1895. Strangely enough, China screened a motion picture, soon after the global debut of cinema.

According to history, the first recorded screening of a motion picture in China, took place in August 1896. Exactly 105 years ago, the first Chinese film was made and screened. This was in November 1905.

A word about the production of the first Sri Lankan film is quite apt at this stage. The decision to make the first Sinhala film in 1947, was not prompted by artistic or creative considerations. It was, by and large, a commercial decision.

At this time, in Sri Lanka, the Stage Play was the most popular form of entertainment available to the masses. Successful theatrical groups, earned substantial box-office returns, by presenting the plays in their repertoire in Colombo and in various parts of the Island, to audiences eagerly awaiting to lap up this kind of "live" entertainment.

But, a "live" group could perform only at one place at one time. This persuaded the theatre companies, to make cinematographic versions of their stage plays. Copies of the cinematographed stage plays, could be screened simultaneously at several venues, multiplying the income substantially. In China too, their first film was a recording of the Beijing opera, "The Battle of Dingjunshan". Most people who could not view the Beijing opera "live" would have benefited vastly through this film-version.

This ushered in an era of Chinese film-production. During the initial stages, the film production companies were mainly foreign-owned.

When the indigenous Chinese film industry started in earnest, Shanghai became the centre of this infant enterprise. In the formative years of China's film industry, the training of the Chinese film technicians, was done primarily by experts form the US, leading to an American influence, in the early years.

When film-making in China, began to expand, indigenous companies took over. They discovered unending resources, that could form the subject matter of Chinese cinema. Some of the early cinematic products, proved successful even beyond the shores of China. "White Snake" of 1926, was one such success.

From the early days on, the Chinese cinema tradition evolved into a high stature. According to history, the Chinese cinematic tradition, passed on from one golden age to another, traversing succeeding phases of evolution.

There came a phase when lands outside China, began to take note of the surprising achievement of Chinese cinema. Chinese Films won a whole series of International Awards.

"Red Sorghum", "The Story of Qiu Ju" and "Farewell my Concubine", were among the Chinese cinematic works, that earned prestigious film-awards.

Chinese Actress, Gong Li, escalated into International star level.

In recent years, high international renown came to Chinese cinema, through "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon", of 2000. In the wake of the massive stir caused by this film, in world audiences, Chinese cinema registered an indelible mark on the global film-goers. (Incidentally, "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" is included in the current Chinese Film Festival in Colombo)

We have to be grateful to the People's Republic of China and the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka, for jointly organising the current Chinese film festival in Colombo, that enables the lovers of cinema, to obtain a focused view of China's cinematic tradition.

A closer co-operation between China and Sri Lanka will ensure that Sri Lanka will benefit substantially from the advancements made by China, in the field of cinema and associated disciplines. We earnestly hope, that the present Chinese film festival in Colombo, will provide opportunities for Sri Lanka's film community to sharpen their awareness of the ever-evolving cinematic tradition of China.