What are some great movies in color about OLD China?

November 12, 2020 3:02 AM

Village life, peasants, Shanghai, Emperors, Romance - all good. I really liked Raise the Red Lantern, what are some other movies I'd like in that genre? Extra points for them being historically accurate, good acting and splendid backdrops in color? Oh, also have to have English dubbing or at least subtitles. Thanks.
posted by watercarrier to Media & Arts (13 answers total)

Best answer: You mentioned Raise the Red Lantern, but all of Zhang Yimou's movies are worth a look. I particularly liked Ju Dou and Red Sorghum.

Also try Chen Kaige - e.g. Life on a String, Farewell My Concubine.

There was a golden age of Chinese film-making in the 80s & 90s, known as the Fifth Generation. You can't go wrong with any of those film-makers, there are some genuine stand-out masterpieces.

More mainstream/western but still maybe worth a look: The Last Emperor by Bertolucci.

Oh - of course - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon! And House of Flying Daggers.
posted by rd45 at 4:11 AM on November 12, 2020 [3 favorites]

What era are you interested in? Shanghai hasn't actually been around that long so trying to guage what "old" China means to you- maybe just not contemporary?
posted by bearette at 4:11 AM on November 12, 2020

Response by poster: @bearette - anything from the Ming dynasty upto WW2.
posted by watercarrier at 4:15 AM on November 12, 2020

It's a Western-perspective rather than a Chinese-perspective film, but The Painted Veil might work.
posted by terretu at 5:22 AM on November 12, 2020

I really enjoyed Marco Polo on Netflix.
posted by Fallbala at 5:44 AM on November 12, 2020

The Last Emperor
posted by theora55 at 5:54 AM on November 12, 2020

If you want more Zhang Yimou, please add Shanghai Triad which takes place in either the 1920s or 1930s.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 9:33 AM on November 12, 2020 [2 favorites]

Peking Opera Blues!
posted by Jeanne at 10:02 AM on November 12, 2020

King Hu's A Touch of Zen
posted by Chenko at 10:43 AM on November 12, 2020 [2 favorites]

Fong Sai Yuk and its sequel - martial arts/comedy with Jet Li, set during the Qing Dynasty.

If you're interested in TV shows as well as movies... there are a lot of those. Here are a few (ignore the fantasy shows included in that category if that's not your thing).
posted by trig at 11:04 AM on November 12, 2020 [1 favorite]

This is set in 1975 so not too old but The Sent Down Girl. Also In the Mood for Love and Lust, Caution.
posted by DixieBaby at 12:16 PM on November 12, 2020

'To Live', one of my all time favourite movies, directed by Zhang Yimou, and somehow available on YouTube. You won't be disappointed.
posted by M.Onniker at 2:12 PM on November 12, 2020 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Agree with the recommendations for Zhang Yimou and Cheng Kaige's films.

It's a shame that many great Chinese films are not available on home media with English subtitles. I included a few of my favorites, following your criteria, with YouTube links below.

The Red Detachment of Women (1961)
Director: Xie Jin
Full film with English subtitles on YouTube

Two Stage Sisters (1965)
Director: Xie Jin
Full film with English subtitles on YouTube: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

The Yellow Earth (1984)
Director: Chen Kaige
Full film with English subtitles on YouTube

The Horse Thief (1986)
Director: Tian Zhuangzhuang
Full film with English subtitles on YouTube

Red Sorghum (1988)
Director: Zhang Yimou
Full film with English subtitles on YouTube

To Live (1994)
Director: Zhang Yimou
Full film with English subtitles on YouTube

Flowers of Shanghai (1998)
Director: Hou Hsiao-hsien
Unfortunately, the DVD is out of print; might be available to rent from your library
posted by cursed at 7:01 PM on November 12, 2020 [3 favorites]