Update: All this now lives at a site dedicated to the project: The Chinese Cinema.

This is the top-level index for my writings on Chinese-language film. As a general organizing principle, I’m adapting the categories Andrew Sarris used in his book The American Cinema. Click the name of the director (or studio, movement, film series, or era) to find a subindex of reviews, essays or podcasts on that subject, if there’s more than one. This is currently under construction. Links will go live as I revise and edit existing pieces and write new ones.

Introduction

The Pantheon

Chang Cheh
Hou Hsiao-hsien
King Hu
Jia Zhangke
Lau Kar-leung
Johnnie To
Tsai Ming-liang
Tsui Hark
John Woo
Wong Kar-wai
Edward Yang

The Far Side of Paradise

Peter Chan
Sylvia Chang
Soi Cheang
Mabel Cheung and Alex Law
Stephen Chow
Ann Hui
Michael Hui
Jiang Wen
Stanley Kwan
Ringo Lam
Ang Lee
Li Han-hsiang
Pang Ho-cheung
Patrick Tam

Expressive Esoterica

Ching Siu-tung
Sammo Hung
Jeffrey Lau
Wai Ka-fai
Wong Jing
Herman Yau
Ronny Yu
Chor Yuen
Corey Yuen
Yuen Woo-ping

Fringe Benefits

João Pedro Rodrigues and João Rui Guerra da Mata
JP Sniadecki

Fellow Travelers

Hong Sangsoo
Takashi Miike
Sion Sono
Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Less Than Meets the Eye

Chen Kaige
Lo Wei
Xu Haofeng
Zhang Yimou

Lightly Likable

Benny Chan
Gordon Chan
Teddy Chan
Ho Meng-hua
Clifton Ko
Andrew Lau
Daniel Lee
Heiward Mak
Wu Ma

Strained Seriousness

Dante Lam
Lou Ye
Alan Mak & Felix Chong
Taylor Wong
Wilson Yip

Oddities, One-Shots and Newcomers

Hsu Tsung-hung
Raymond Lee
Liu Jiayin
Luo Li
Poon Man-kit
Shu Kei
Wu Nienjen
Yee Chung-man
Ying Liang
Zhao Wei

21st Century Cinema

Bi Gan
Chai Chunya
Chan Chi-fat
Chan Tze-woon
Cheng Er
Cheuk Wan-chi
Roy Chow
Diao Yinan
Stephen Fung
Han Yan
Guan Hu
Raman Hui
Flora Lau
Longman Leung & Sunny Luk
Johnny Ma
Pan Anzi
Song Fang
Derek Tsang
Wong Ching-po
Wu Ershan
Matt Wu
Xin Yukun
Xue Xiaolu
Yang Chao
Yang Qing
Philip Yung
10 + 10
Ten Years

Subjects for Further Research

Anthony Chan
Fruit Chan
Feng Xiaogang
Patrick Lung Kong
Tang Chia
Wang Bing
Wong Tin-lam
Xie Jin
Derek Yee

The Hong Kong New Wave

Alex Cheung
Allen Fong
Kirk Wong
Yim Ho
Dennis Yu

Shanghai Cinema

Bu Wancang
Cai Chusheng
Dan Duyu
Fang Peilin
Hou Yao
Sun Yu
Wu Yonggang
Zheng Shichaun

Taiwanese Cinema

Chen Kun-ho
Chung Mong-hong
Lee Hsing

Make Way for the Clowns!

Jackie Chan
In the Line of Duty
Kwan Tak-hing
Bruce Lee
Gong Li
Jet Li
Ruan Lingyu
Angela Mao
Sandra Ng
Jimmy Wang Yu
Wu Jing
Donnie Yen
Michelle Yeoh
Yuen Biao
Zhang Ziyi

Cinema City

Aces Go Places

Milkyway Image

Jevons Au, Frank Hui & Vicky Wong
Patrick Leung

Miscellany

History in the Shaw Brothers
30 Essential Wuxia Films
Chinese Cinema Today
The 50 Best Chinese Language Films of the 21st Century
The Best Chinese-Language Films of 2016
150 of the Best Chinese Language Films of All-Time