Bazin at work: the concept of realism in Chinese-language films

Abstract

The year 2008 marks the 90th birth anniversary of Andr Bazin, and the 50th anniversary of his death. This essay examines retrospectively how the legacy of Bazin`s realist film theory has affected Chinese-language cinemas, in terms of theoretical exploration and evolution of film language and aesthetics, as exemplified by works by Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Tsai Ming-Liang, Chen Kaige, and Zhang Yimou. I conclude by reflecting on the reasons why we still need Bazin today, especially for the Chinese-language films, in order to understand reality through the lens of cinema.