The Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW) has announced that its next film series will be called Starburst: Icons of Chinese Cinema. Running from 20 June to 26 August 2018, the program highlights the careers of four four trailblazing Chinese actresses from the 1930s through to the 21st century.
Ruan Lingyu, Anna May Wong, Maggie Cheung and Zhao Tao are the four actresses who form the backbone of the program, which actually spans early Chinese cinema through to films from Hollywood and the American fringes. Following a short break for the Sydney Film Festival, the series kicks off with director Wu Yonggang’s silent classic THE GODDESS (1934), which debuts on 20 June with a newly commissioned live score by acclaimed Hong Kong-born, Sydney-based musician and artist 陳雋然 Chun Yin Rainbow Chan.
Other silent films playing as part of the series highlight Anna May Wong opposite Marlene Dietrich in Josef von Sternberg’s SHANGHAI EXPRESS (1932), along with EA Dupont’s PICCADILLY (1929).
The incomparable Maggie Chung’s versatility is on display in Stanley Wong’s CENTRE STAGE (1991), Olivier Assayas’ vampiric IRMA VEP (1996), Zhang Yimou’s HERO (2002), and of course, Wong Kar-wai’s subtly devastating IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (2000).
The program’s last three weeks highlight the collaboration of director Jia Zhangke and his starZhao Tao, featuring 35mm prints of STILL LIFE (2006), THE WORLD (2004), and PLATFORM (2000). It’s a great chance to revisit the leading figure in China’s “Sixth Generation” movement, especially given his latest film Ash Is Purest White just debuted at Cannes.
Full details can be found at the AGNSW website. Each film will play a matinee and an evening session every Wednesday starting 20 June, followed by a repeat screening on the Saturday. We will be following a number of these films as part of the Asia in Focus section of The Reel Bits.
