[Weekly Update] Women Filmmakers from China

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Anyway, originally screened in a single cinema that shows foreign films, in two weeks, Ne Zha 2 has proven to be such a box office success, multiple theaters in the Montreal area are now showing it.

It has breached containment.

WEEKLY UPDATE

Next Video:
We are now working on our March video, African Kung-Fu Nazis. I still can't believe this is a real movie title for a real movie, but here it is. It's a pretty bad movie, to be honest. Most of the movie is rather boring. But the choreography in general is pretty well done. I would suggest grabbing a beer and giving it a watch.

Originally we wanted to focus exclusively on Ghanaian cinema and history. After thinking about it, I think we might also talk about the representation of Nazis in cinema, and how to do it ethically. It's a topic we've briefly covered in the past, including more extensively in our bonus video on BlackKklansman. But now, it seems like we need to talk about it more than ever.

April and Onward:
From April onward, we'll return to a bi-monthly upload schedule, partly because of financial reasons, unfortunately. I also have more topics I want to cover and not enough projects in a year. The sudden success of Ne Zha 2 means I want to cover it as soon as it is available on streaming, and that just throws every long term project off the schedule.

I still really want to finish our video on Maggie Cheung, but it has snowballed into such a big thing, I'm not sure what to do.

MEDIA TALK

Ah, yes, female directors, the minds behind some of the most unhinged movies I've ever seen. I know that sounds bad, but like, I'm sure the girly out there will agree with me. When it comes to eff-up horror movies, us boys currently have our asses beat by the girls. The Substance, man, what a movie.

Part of the reason is because in our world, women face a different set of difficulties, fears, and horrors, many of which are rarely tapped into in our media. From fearing the next boyfriend may be abusive, to being afraid of someone walking behind, when a women director tapped into these day to day horror, the result is chilling and yet fresh.

So, in honour of International Women's Day, let's talk about some Women Filmmakers!

(1) Currently, China's number one female director is undoubtedly Jia Ling. We already introduced her in our video in our video about "Hi, Mom". Last year, she also made "YOLO", a remake of "100 Yen Love", one of the best films from China in 2024. Still, I think Hi, Mom is a better film simply because it's more personal. But YOLO does showcase how much she improves as a director.

In comparison to the sleek aesthetic of blockbusters today, Jia Ling's film taps into her personal experience and imagination, which made her stories (and her performance) feel very organic and day to day. The details in her film don't often feel cinematic, but very tactile. Not everything she does is in service of the story, but is done because it feels right.

I know it's a very abstract way to describe her work. Her films are just the kinds you have to experience yourself. Hi, Mom is available on YouTube for free, so give it a watch if you want a good comedy that'll move you to tears.

By the way, this woman is truly remarkable. She's 42 and looks 30, lost 50kg (from 105kg) and gained abs for the roles in YOLO, and then regained back 20KG after filming because she likes it that way. What a badass.

(Extra) Going to Hollywood for a second, did you know the Internet's favourite dude movie, American Psycho, is directed by a woman?

There are, in fact, many movies celebrated by boys that are directed by women: Anatomy of a Fall, CODA, Little Miss Sunshine, Selma... From my anecdotal experience, the directors behind these films are often acknowledged less than the film itself. There is rarely an instance of someone going in an analyze the film through an auteur lens, the same way we do with male directors. The reason, I believe, is because these aren't exclusively "feminine" films. Their subject matter does not tie closely to women. The only exception in this regard is Kathryne Bigelow. Even then, she's often referred to as James Cameron's ex by the media, which is hilariously insulting.

I'm bringing this up, just so we can remember that women directors don't necessary have to make women films. I mean, if a dude can direct Silence of the Lambs and make it amazing, the reverse should also be true. Women should not have to find their place in only their circle. The film world is one big pie, enough for everyone.

(2) Back to China, let's talk about Shao Yihui. You may not have heard of her. In fact, most Chinese people have not heard of her until very recently. Shao wrote and directed Myth of Love in 2021, and Her Story in 2024. With only two films, Shao managed to prove herself a rising star and a true auteur, as both of her films were award winning.

Compare to the very grass root style of Jia Ling, Shao Yihui's movies are very intellectual, subtly mocking the very specific aspects of gender inequality that's unique to China. Her Story, for example, examines the social pressure on single mother in China. It's a position that's often put on a pedestal, one that demands perfection. The unachievable standard is soul crushing, yet is often undiscussed in China.

Being quiet a smart writer, Shao isn't afraid to have jokes that fly over people's head. Indeed, she does not slow down to explain. This resulted in Her Story becoming quiet a meme, where girls were laughing their asses off in theaters, while dudes sitting by their girlfriend's side, not sure what is going on.

(3) Last but not least, Ann Hui from Hong Kong has been a favourite director of this channel for a long long time. We have covered her film All About Love in our video about Hong Kong LGBT cinema. It's one of my favourite films of hers, and that's not even among her best works.

Few directors, male or female, has the consistency of Ann Hui. Ah Kam, Summer Snow, Jade Goddess of Mercy, The Post Modern Life of My Aunt, The way We Are, A Simple Life, The Golden Era are all amazing movies, and they are all directed by this one woman. No joke, half of her movies are award-winning stuff, and the other half are still good and worth a watch.

Ann Hui is also a very intellectual filmmaker, in a way that's very socially aware. Her films generally tackles social problems, ranging from LGBT rights to aging population, all in a way that's simple, understandable, yet factual. Among these films, I think A Simple Life is one I'd recommend the most.

And that was 3 women filmmakers from China, two rising stars to keep an eye out on, and one veteran whose filmography is so good, you you have to pay attention to. Who are the famous female directors from your country? Share them in the comments! I'll see you in our next update.