The Cinema of Jia Zhangke: Realism and Memory in Chinese Film (Tauris World Cinema Series)

Despite his films being subjected to censorship and denigration in his native China, Jia Zhangke has become the country's leading independent film director internationally. Seen as one of world cinema's foremost auteurs, he has been playing a crucial role in documenting and reflecting upon his country's era of intense transformations since the 1990s. This book offers innovative scholarship and in-depth analysis of Jia's unique body of work from his opening act Platform , to experimental quasi-documentary 24 City through to the audacious addition of Mountains May Depart . Drawing on classic and contemporary realism theory, it suggests that his particular expression of the realist mode is greatly shaped by the aesthetics of other Chinese artistic traditions. These traditions allow Jia to unearth memories both personal and collective, still lingering within the ever-changing landscapes of contemporary China. Interweaving issues relating to cinema, painting, architecture, opera, pop music, literature, geography, and history, chapters address the very nature of the so-called "impure" cinematographic art and in addition the complex representation of China through the ages. Proving of value to students and scholars of film studies and to admirers of Jia's work, this book opens the door into Chinese cinema and culture at a time when the country is at the center of the world's attention. Shorlisted for the BAFTSS 2020 Award for Best MonographDespite his films being subjected to censorship and denigration in his native China, Jia Zhangke has become the country's leading independent film director internationally. Seen as one of world cinema's foremost auteurs, he has played a crucial role in documenting and reflecting upon China's era of intense transformationssince the 1990s.Cecília Mello provides in-depth analysis of Jia's unique body of work, from his early films Xiao Wu and Platform, to experimental quasi-documentary 24 City and the audacious Mountains May Depart. Mello suggests that Jia's particular expression of the realist mode is shaped by the aesthetics of other Chinese artistic traditions, allowing Jia to unearth memories both personal and collective, still lingering within the ever-changing landscapes of contemporary China. Mello's groundbreaking study opensa door into Chinese cinema and culture, addressing the nature of the so-called'impure'cinematographic art and the complex representation of China through the ages.Foreword by Walter Salles "Despite his films being subjected to censorship and denigration in his native China, Jia Zhangke has become the country's leading independent film director internationally. Seen as one of world cinema's foremost auteurs, he has played a crucial role in documenting and reflecting upon China's era of intense transformations since the 1990s. Cecília Mello provides in-depth analysis of Jia's unique body of work, from his early films Xiao Wu and Platform, to experimental quasi-documentary 24 City and the audacious Mountains May Depart. Mello suggests that Jia's particular expression of the realist mode is shaped by the aesthetics of other Chinese artistic traditions, allowing Jia to unearth memories both personal and collective, still lingering within the ever-changing landscapes of contemporary China. Mello's groundbreaking study opens a door into Chinese cinema and culture, addressing the nature of the so-called 'impure' cinematographic art and the complex representation of China through the ages. Foreword by Walter Salles."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Despite his films being subjected to censorship and denigration in his native China, Jia Zhangke has become the country's leading independent film director internationally. Seen as one of world cinema's foremost auteurs, he has played a crucial role in documenting and reflecting upon China's era of intense transformations since the 1990s. Cecília Mello provides in-depth analysis of Jia's unique body of work, from his early films Xiao Wu and Platform, to experimental quasi-documentary 24 City and the audacious Mountains May Depart. Mello suggests that Jia's particular expression of the realist mode is shaped by the aesthetics of other Chinese artistic traditions, allowing Jia to unearth memories both personal and collective, still lingering within the ever-changing landscapes of contemporary China. Mello's groundbreaking study opens a door into Chinese cinema and culture, addressing the nature of the so-called 'impure' cinematographic art and the complex representation of China through the ages.--Back cover Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Dedication Contents Figures Foreword Acknowledgements Note on transliteration 1 Introduction: Jia Zhangke, realism, impurity and memory 2 The walls of China: Between ephemerality and permanence 3 Pingyao’s city walls: On-location filming and the weight of history 4 Pop music’s sonic memories 5 Landscape painting, Chinese philosophy and the aesthetic innovation of Still Life 6 Opera, wuxia and China’s imagined civilization 7 Painterly still lifes and photographic poses 8 Garden heterotopias and the memory of space 9 I Wish I Knew’s cinephilic journeys (an afterword on intertextuality) Appendix I: Filmography Appendix II: Songography Notes Bibliography Index A new study of leading Chinese director Jia Zhangke's cinema, focussing on his often realist aesthetic and his representation of China past and present.