The Cinema of Jia Zhangke: Realism and Memory in Chinese Film

Jia Zhangke is a Chinese film director who has become internationally known for his films that document and reflect upon China's era of intense transformations since the 1990s. Cecilia Mello's book provides an in-depth analysis of Jia's unique body of work, suggesting that his expression of the realist mode is shaped by the aesthetics of other Chinese artistic traditions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 24 February 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Shorlisted for the prestigious BAFTSS 2020 Award for Best Monograph, Jia Zhangke, a renowned independent filmmaker from China, has emerged as the country's leading film director on the international stage. Despite facing censorship in his native country, Jia's films have garnered critical acclaim worldwide. Considered one of the foremost auteurs of world cinema, he has played a pivotal role in capturing and examining China's era of profound transformations since the 1990s. In her comprehensive analysis, Cecília Mello delves into Jia's unique body of work, encompassing his early films such as Xiao Wu and Platform, as well as his experimental quasi-documentary 24 City and the audacious Mountains May Depart. Mello argues that Jia's distinctive expression of realism is influenced by the aesthetics of other Chinese artistic traditions, enabling him to unearth personal and collective memories that persist within the ever-changing landscapes of contemporary China. Mello's groundbreaking study offers a profound exploration into Chinese cinema and culture, addressing the nature of what is often referred to as "impure cinematographic art" and the complex representation of China throughout its history. The book features a foreword by renowned director Walter Salles and a new preface by the author, further enhancing its significance and relevance.

Weight: 554g
Dimension: 157 x 234 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350293427