Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Distribution and Translation, edited by renowned scholars Yves Gambier and Haina Jin, is a seminal work that thoroughly examines the global journey of contemporary Chinese cinema, focusing on translation, distribution, and reception.This collection of papers, contributed by experts from various countries, delves into the multifaceted relationship between Chinese films and the diverse cultural landscapes they navigate upon crossing cultural borders and reaching foreign shores.Each of the 12 papers, or chapters of the book, is a deep exploration into a different cultural context, ranging from Asia to Latin America, unraveling the intricate layers of socio-political, historical, and economic influences that shape the journey of Chinese cinema beyond its borders.One of the book's strengths lies in its detailed exploration of the complex interplay between cultural exchange and political dynamics.For instance, the first chapter focuses on Japan's cinematic landscape, vividly tracing the evolution of Chinese film translations from the era of silent films with bilingual intertitles to the post-war surge of subtitled Chinese movies.It highlights the unique Japanese tradition of 'benshi' -live narrators for silent films -and its decline with the arrival of talkies, showing how cultural practices, technological advances, and shifts in power dynamics between China and Japan have influenced film translation and reception.The Sinophone cinema in Singkawang, Indonesia, offers a fascinating case study of how film can both reflect and shape cultural identity.The local industry's focus on Hakka language films underscores the intricate and subtle ties between language, ethnicity, and cinema, spotlighting the role of films in sustaining and developing cultural practices in the context of increasing globalization.
Author: Longwei Zheng
Language: English
Topic: Cinema and Media Studies
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid:
OpenAlex ID: W4411902256