Women Hold Up Half the Sky is a touring programme of Chinese cinema coming to Scotland this Autumn. Running from September all the way through to October, the festival will be screening several movies that celebrate women in Chinese cinema, going back almost a hundred years to Xi Xiang Ji.
The programme is presented by MINT Chinese Film Festival (MINT CFF) x Aya Films and is a mix of contemporary, classic and short Chinese films made by and about women.
If you’re anywhere in Scotland during this time, it’s certainly checking out. Here’s a taste of what’s on offer:
This Woman (2023). In this documentary, filmmaker Alan Zhang follows the life of young woman named Bei Bei, whose emancipated lifestyle challenges tradition. Zhang asks questions and explores what life is like for this woman, in this blend of fiction and nonfiction.
Fly me to the Moon (2023). Sasha Chuk directs and stars in this drama about a family in 90s Hong Kong. Two sisters move from Hunan to Hong Kong and face poverty, discrimination and their father’s drug issues.
M Butterfly(1993). David Cronenberg’s romantic drama film, based on David Henry Hwang’s play, returns to the big screen, and tells the story of a French diplomat assigned to Beijing, and becomes infatuated with an opera star who doubles as a spy for the PRC.
Yangzi’s Confusion (2023). A young girl, Yangzi, attempts to come to grips with her abandonment by her mother after stealing her diary. Heavy family dynamics come to play when they must see each other at Yangzi’s grandmother’s 60th birthday. A struggle between three generations of women comes to light in this sombre drama.
Xi Xiang Ji (1927). One of China’s most beloved romantic comedies, Romance of the Western Chamber was a controversial play at the time, dealing with a a young couple who choose to consummate their marriage without the approval of their parents. Only 5 reels of this movie’s original 10 survive, but the experience of seeing this with a live score played should not be missed.
The touring programme will run from 8th September – 26th October across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness, Aberfeldy, St Andrews and consists of 7 feature films, 2 short film programmes, live music accompaniments, discussions, introductions and more!
The Asian Cinema Critic 