Chinese films bring poetic storytelling and bold imagination to the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival

By A Staff Reporter

Kolkata: The 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) is shining a spotlight on contemporary Chinese cinema, showcasing a trio of remarkable films that traverse themes of memory, identity, and imagination. He Man (Eel) by Chu Chun Teng, Chang An Xian by Zhang Zhong, and Resurrection (Kuangye Shidai) by acclaimed director Bi Gan highlight the diversity and depth of storytelling emerging from the region.

Chu Chun Teng’s He Man (Eel) (Taiwan–China, 2025, 102 mins) unfolds on a mist-shrouded island near Taipei, where time, memory, and emotion dissolve into one another. The film follows a young man returning home and a mysterious woman guarding forgotten stories. Through slow, poetic pacing and ethereal imagery, Teng crafts an evocative meditation on loss, renewal, and the fluidity of desire and memory. The film’s ambient soundscape and lyrical cinematography blur the line between reality and reverie.

Zhang Zhong’s Chang An Xian (China, 2024, 98 mins) bridges continents through a Sino–Iranian collaboration inspired by the Belt and Road Initiative. Spanning 30 years, the film portrays a cross-border love story between China and Central Asia while weaving in the legacy of Chang’an (modern-day Xi’an). Combining the grandeur of the Terracotta Warriors with modern cultural exchanges, the film explores international marriage, identity, and redemption through a “play within a play” narrative structure.

Rounding out the selection is Resurrection (Kuangye Shidai) (China, 2025, 156 mins), the latest visionary work from Bi Gan, starring Shu Qi and Jackson Yee. Set in a futuristic world where humanity has lost the ability to dream, the film follows Miss Shu as she enters the dreams of a creature to uncover hidden truths from Chinese history. Divided into six chapters based on the five senses and the mind, Resurrection merges surreal visuals, emotional depth, and philosophical reflection. The film premiered in competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Prix Spécial.

Together, these films exemplify the evolving landscape of Chinese cinema — one that combines traditional aesthetics with contemporary storytelling, offering global audiences a blend of introspection, cultural dialogue, and cinematic innovation.