The domestic film industry's articulation toward the global film industry, however, has changed. On one side, Chinese films have selectively entered the international market. "Fifth Generation" directors such as Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou have garnered prizes at major international film festivals; and their critically acclaimed films are available in major movie rental stores in North America. (20) Gradually, these filmmakers have grown increasingly autonomous of the domestic Chinese film infrastructure and gained the support of foreign investors and distributors. For example, Chen Kaige's latest epic, "The Emperor and the Assassin," was funded by Japanese capital and distributed by Sony, and he is making his English-language debut in Hollywood by directing "Killing Me Softly," an erotic big budget thriller starring Heather Graham. (21) Chinese cultural resources, from the ancient legend Mulan to contemporary Chinese sceneries and talents, are being incorporated by Hollywood. While Mulan is Disneyfied, some 80% of China's cartoon artists are working for Disney. (22)
A decade later, an epistemic transformation had occurred. Hollywood movies are not just foreign movies from the U.S. They are "big movies" (da pian) or "grand movies" (ju pian), the master of all movies, standing above movies from other countries. To see them has become a cultural citizenship entitlement for China's rising middle class. The flourishing domestic pirate VCD market of Hollywood films is a clear sign of this. Beginning in 1995, China made a commitment to import up to 10 first run Hollywood films per year. Driven by profit considerations, the state-controlled film distributor and cinemas aggressively promoted Hollywood movies, while ignoring domestic productions. This double standard, as Dai Jinhua, a Beijing University professor noted, "further intensifies the squeezing power of transnational capital over domestic films." (24) In 1995, the "most glorious year" for the Chinese film box office due to the surge in Hollywood imports, more than 70 domestic Chinese films were shelved, without a chance to be exhibited in theatres. (25)
Pirate Movie Dubbed In Hindi Full Movie
2ff7e9595c
Comments