Abstract
This chapter introduces the most acclaimed but still under-researched contemporary director in Chinese cinema, Zhang Yimou. It examines Zhang’s early experiences—his rural life as a sent-down youth during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) and his university campus life at the Beijing Film Academy (1978–1982) —and emphasizes the impact that this background will have on his later creative career. The chapter suggests that a study of Zhang’s popular genre films from the late 1980s to the present day can provide insights into the evolution of Chinese cinema, from an inward-looking cultural activity to an expansive commercial industry, albeit one that still struggles to define its identity within the pressures of the global marketplace.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
