\tThe 50 films you must watch that made it into this list span throughout past 90 years, from 1922 to 2012, and offer a comprehensive view of the development of Chinese cinema.<\/p>\n
\tAs the list indicates, the post-80s sees a rise in mainland Chinese filmmaking. Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou led the rise of the Fifth Generation directors, while the Sixth Generation director Jia Zhangke continues to make internationally acclaimed movies. The extended list of “100 Essential Chinese Films” includes works by other mainland directors, such as Tian Zhuangzhuang’s The Blue Kite, Jiang Wen’s In the Heat of the Sun, and Lou Ye’s Summer Palace.<\/p>\n
\tRomance of a Fruit Peddler (aka Laborer’s Love) \/ \u52b3\u5de5\u4e4b\u7231\u60c5 (Laogong zhi aiqing)
\t(1923, Zhang Shichuan, China) AW<\/p>\n
\t*Little Toys \/ \u5c0f\u73a9\u610f (Xiao wanyi)
\t(1933, Sun Yu, China) AW, HKFA #70, GHFF #91<\/p>\n
\t*The Goddess \/ \u795e\u5973 (Shennu)
\t(1934, Wu Yonggang, China) AW, HKFA #29, GHFF #23<\/p>\n
\t*The Big Road (aka The Highway) \/ \u5927\u8def (Dalu)
\t(1935, Sun Yu, China) AW, HKFA #30, GHFF #50<\/p>\n
\t*Song at Midnight \/ \u591c\u534a\u6b4c\u8072 (Yeban gesheng)
\t(1937, Ma Xu Weibang, China) AW, HKFA #77<\/p>\n
\t*Street Angel \/ \u99ac\u8def\u5929\u4f7f (Malu tianshi)
\t(1937, Yuan Muzhi, China) AW, HKFA #11, GHFF #19<\/p>\n
\t*Crossroads \/ \u5341\u5b57\u8857\u982d (Shizi jietou)
\t(1937, Shen Xiling, China) AW, GHFF #91<\/p>\n
\t*Spring in a Small Town \/ \u5c0f\u57ce\u4e4b\u6625 (Xiao cheng zhi chun)
\t(1948, Fei Mu, China) AW, HKFA #1, GHFF #5<\/p>\n
\t*The Spring River Flows East \/ \u4e00\u6c5f\u6625\u6c34\u5411\u4e1c\u6d41 (Yi jiang chunshui xiang dong liu)
\t(1947, Cai Chusheng, Zheng Junli, China) AW, HKFA #27, GHFF #40<\/p>\n
\t*Myriad of Lights \/ \u842c\u5bb6\u71c8\u706b (aka The Lights of Ten Thousand Homes) (Wanjia denghuo)
\t(1948, Shen Fu, China) AW, HKFA #91<\/p>\n
\t*This Life of Mine \/ \u6211\u8fd9\u4e00\u8f88\u5b50 (Wo zhe yibeizi)
\t(1950, Shi Hui, PRC) AW, HKFA #46<\/p>\n
\t*In the Face of Demolition \/ \u5371\u6a13\u6625\u66c9 (Weilou chunxiao)
\t(1954, Lee Tit, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #18<\/p>\n
\t*Mambo Girl \/ \u66fc\u6ce2\u5973\u90ce (Manbo guniang)
\t(1958, Yi Wen, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #83<\/p>\n
\t*The Love Eterne \/ \u6881\u5c71\u4f2f\u8207\u795d\u82f1\u53f0 (Liang Shanbo yu Zhu Yintai)
\t(1963, Li Han Hsiang, Hong Kong) HKFA #38, GHFF #11<\/p>\n
\t*Stage Sisters \/ \u821e\u53f0\u59d0\u59b9 (Wutai jiemei)
\t(1965, Xie Jin, China) AW, HKFA #53, GHFF #91<\/p>\n
\t*One-Armed Swordsman \/ \u7368\u81c2\u5200 (Dubi dao)
\t(1967, Chang Cheh, Hong Kong) HKFA #15, GHFF #73<\/p>\n
\t*Dragon Gate Inn \/ \u9f8d\u9580\u5ba2\u68e7 (Longmen kezhan)
\t(1967, King Hu, Taiwan) AW, HKFA #7, GHFF #9<\/p>\n
\t*A Touch of Zen \/ \u4fe0\u5973 (Xia nu)
\t(1971, King Hu, Taiwan) AW, HKFA #9, GHFF #15<\/p>\n
\t*The Arch \/ \u8463\u592b\u4eba (Dong furen)
\t(1969, Tang Shu Shuen, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #20, GHFF #44<\/p>\n
\t*Execution in Autumn \/ \u79cb\u6c7a (1972, Lee Hsing, Taiwan)
\t(1972, Li Hsing, Taiwan) HKFA #85, GHFF #38<\/p>\n
\t*Fist of Fury \/ \u7cbe\u6b66\u9580 (Jingwu men)
\t(1972, Lo Wei, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #16, GHFF #30<\/p>\n
\t*The Private Eyes \/ \u534a\u65a4\u516b\u5169 (Banjin baliang)
\t(1976, Michael Hui, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #13, GHFF #66<\/p>\n
\t*Drunken Master \/ \u9189\u62f3 (Zhui quan)
\t(1978, Yuen Woo-ping, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #33, GHFF #66<\/p>\n
\t*Boat People \/ \u6295\u5954\u6012\u6d77 (Touben nuhai)<\/p>\n
\t(1982, Ann Hui, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #8, GHFF #83<\/p>\n
\t*Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain \/ \u65b0\u8700\u5c71\u528d\u4fe0 (Xin shu shan jian xia)
\t(1982, Tsui Hark, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #40, GHFF #66<\/p>\n
\t*Yellow Earth \/ \u9ec4\u571f\u5730 (Huang tudi)
\t(1984, Chen Kaige, PRC) AW, HKFA #4, GHFF #13<\/p>\n
\t*A Time to Live and a Time to Die \/ \u7ae5\u5e74\u5f80\u4e8b (Tongnian wangshi)
\t(1985, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Taiwan) AW, HKFA #24, GHFF #3<\/p>\n
\t*The Terrorizers \/ \u6050\u6016\u5206\u5b50 (Kongbu fenzi)
\t(1986, Edward Yang, Taiwan) AW, HKFA #41, GHFF #11<\/p>\n
\t*A Better Tomorrow \/ \u82f1\u96c4\u672c\u8272 (Yingxiong bense)
\t(1986, John Woo, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #2, GHFF #17<\/p>\n
\t*A Chinese Ghost Story \/ \u5029\u5973\u5e7d\u9b42 (Qiannu youhun)
\t(1987, Ching Siu-tung, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #19, GHFF #35<\/p>\n
\t*Red Sorghum \/ \u7ea2\u9ad8\u7cb1 (Hong gaoliang)
\t(1987, Zhang Yimou, PRC) AW, HKFA #25, GHFF #21<\/p>\n
\t*Rouge \/ \u80ed\u8102\u6263 (Yanzhi kou)
\t(1988, Stanley Kwan, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #21, GHFF #27<\/p>\n
\t*City of Sadness \/ \u60b2\u60c5\u57ce\u5e02 (Beiqing chengshi)
\t(1989, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Taiwan) AW, HKFA #1, GHFF #5<\/p>\n
\t*A Brighter Summer Day \/ \u726f\u5dba\u8857\u5c11\u5e74\u6bba\u4eba\u4e8b\u4ef6 (Gulingjie shaonian sharen shijian)
\t(1991, Edward Yang, Taiwan) AW, HKFA #12, GHFF #2<\/p>\n
\t*Days of Being Wild \/ \u963f\u98db\u6b63\u50b3 (A fei zheng zhuan)
\t(1990, Wong Kar-Wai, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #3, GHFF #4<\/p>\n
\t*Center Stage \/ \u962e\u73b2\u7389 (Ruan Lingyu)
\t(1992, Stanley Kwan, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #44, GHFF #30<\/p>\n
\t*In the Heat of the Sun \/ \u9633\u5149\u707f\u70c2\u7684\u65e5\u5b50 (Yangguang canlan de rizi)
\t(1994, Jiang Wen, PRC) AW, HKFA #17, GHFF #19<\/p>\n
\t*Vive L’Amour \/ \u611b\u60c5\u842c\u6b72 (Aiqing wansui)
\t(1994, Tsai Ming-liang, Taiwan) GHFF #13<\/p>\n
\t*A Chinese Odyssey \/ \u5927\u8a71\u897f\u904a (Da hua xi you)
\t(1994, Jeffrey Lau, Hong Kong) HKFA #19, GHFF #73<\/p>\n
\t*Comrades: Almost a Love Story \/ \u751c\u871c\u871c (Tian mimi)
\t(1996, Peter Chan, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #28, GHFF #16<\/p>\n
\t*Made in Hong Kong \/ \u9999\u6e2f\u88fd\u9020 (Xianggang zhizao)
\t(1997, Fruit Chan, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #36, GHFF #58<\/p>\n
\tXiao Wu \/ Pickpocket \/ \u5c0f\u6b66 (Xiao Wu)
\t(1997, Jia Zhangke, PRC) GHFF #35<\/p>\n
\t*The Mission \/ \u9397\u706b (Qiang huo)
\t(1999, Johnnie To, Hong Kong) HKFA #14, GHFF #44<\/p>\n
\t*Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon \/ \u81e5\u864e\u85cf\u9f8d (Wo hu cang long)
\t(2000, Ang Lee, Taiwan\/PRC\/Hong Kong\/US) HKFA #10, GHFF #6<\/p>\n
\tYi Yi: A One and a Two\/ \u4e00\u4e00 (Yi yi)
\t(2000, Edward Yang, Taiwan) HKFA #56, GHFF #7, dGF #4<\/p>\n
\t*In the Mood for Love \/ \u82b1\u6a23\u5e74\u83ef (Hua yang nian hua)
\t(2000, Wong Kar-Wai, Hong Kong) HKFA #22, GHFF #9, dGF #1<\/p>\n
\t*Platform \/ \u7ad9\u53f0 (Zhantai)
\t(2000, Jia Zhangke, PRC) HKFA #63, GHFF #73, dGF #3<\/p>\n
\t*Infernal Affairs \/ \u7121\u9593\u9053 (Wu jian dao)
\t(2002, Andrew Lau, Alan Mak, Hong Kong) HKFA #32, GHFF #18<\/p>\n
\t*West of the Tracks \/ \u94c1\u897f\u533a (Tie xi qu)
\t(2003, Wang Bing, PRC) dGF #2<\/p>\n
\t*Oxhide \/ \u725b\u76ae (Niu pi)
\t(2005, Liu Jiayin, PRC) dGF #7<\/p>\n
\t*City of Life and Death \/ \u5357\u4eac! \u5357\u4eac! (Nanjing! Nanjing!)
\t(2009, Lu Chuan, PRC)<\/p>\n
\t*Let the Bullets Fly \/ \u8ba9\u5b50\u5f39\u98de (Rang zidan fei)
\t(2011, Jiang Wen, PRC \/ Hong Kong)<\/p>\n
\tThe majority of these films are from Hong Kong. The 60s feature some major productions by the Shaw Brothers studio, who became well-known for their gritty kung fu, or wuxia, movies. Aside from wuxia, the list also includes their production The Love Eterne, the studio’s most successful attempt at opera films. The Love Eterne is a film adaptation of the Chinese classic story The Butterfly Lovers. It takes the form of huangmei opera, featuring fantastic sets, traditional Chinese clothing, and amazing performance by the two leading actresses. Starting from the 80s, on the list appears masterpieces by some of the greatest directors of Hong Kong and Taiwanese cinema: Edward Yang, Wong Kar-Wai, and Hou Hsiao-hsien.<\/p>\n