“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish,” said the great Michelle Obama. In a male-dominating career where it’s seen how the male protagonist always over-shadows the female character, battling with amnesia, met Xuan, a snake-hunter, and how they fall in love with helping her havingmeets a female-centric film is like a breath of fresh air.
So here is a list of 10 Chinese female-centric films with compelling characters. So if you like watching female-driven movies, this list is just for you.
1. Saving Face (2004)
Saving Face is a lesbian romantic comedy that was a 2004 movie that was way ahead of its time. The film shows the issues of Chinese-American experiences and lesbian love. The film revolves around three women characters: Wilhemina ‘Wil’ (Michelle Krusiec) the lead, who is a closeted lesbian; her love interest Vivian (Lynn Chen) and her 48-year-old mother, Hwei-lan (Joan Chen). It is a light-hearted movie and a great addition to your movie list.
2. White Snake (2019)
White Snake is a Fantasy/Animated movie. It is a beautiful love story between a snake spirit and a snake hunter. The film is adapted from the Chinese folktale Legend of the White Snake. The story revolves around the protagonist, a young adult white snake named Blanca, who is battling with amnesia; met Xuan, a snake-hunter, and how they fall in love with the process of helping her to regain her memory and later fight for their forbidden love. If you are a fan of animated movies, White Snake is a great addition that you will love to your movie list.
3. I Am Not Madame Bovary (2016)
I Am Not Madame Bovary is a Comedy/Drama. The movie is about giving you a great time, and you will love it. It’s adapted from Liu's 2012 novel I Did Not Kill My Husband. The movie tells us the story of Li Xuelian, the main protagonist, and how she takes on the Chinese legal system after being defrauded by her ex-husband. The movie will surely keep you hooked to your screen till the end.
4. Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (1999)
The movie Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl is a blow to the hard reality of life between 1967 and 1976. The film occurs during the Cultural Revolution when the female protagonist was selected to be "sent down" to a remote rural area. The movie shows us all the hardships a 15 years old Xiu Xiu faced during her stay and how she lost her innocence in hopes of earning the means to return home. The movie is an emotional and heart-breaking film, a real hidden gem.
5. Raise The Red Lantern (1991)
The movie is about sexual enslavement. A 19-year-old college dropout, Songlian (Gong Li) becomes the third concubine or, as she is referred to, the Fourth Mistress of the house of a rich man, Master Chen (Ma Jingwu). The story revolves around duplicity, jealousy, and disclosing each other's darkest secrets. It is a compelling movie if one wants to experience a great cinematic experience.
6. Jasmine Women (2004)
It is a Drama/Romance film. The film portrays the passionate, antsy lives of three generations of an all-female family from the 1930s to the 1980s and their bad choice of men. The movie is exciting three to watch as it shows us the 3 different chapters of the life of each lead - the grandmother, mother, and daughter (Mo, Li, and Hua). The film is set in three eras the thirties, sixties, and eighties. It’s a great and quite entertaining movie.
7. Summer Palace (2006)
The movie portrays a love story that occurred between 1988 and 2003. The story revolves around Yu Hong (the lead), who attends a university in Beijing where she is exposed to a fierce world of sexual freedom and forbidden pleasures. It also showcases how she develops a consuming and compulsive relationship with another student. This movie might sound intense, but it’s worth your time.
8. Girls (2014)
This movie is light-hearted and easy to watch, so that you will love it. It’s like the regular Rom-com that we call love to watch occasionally their. It focuses on the love and friendship surrounding three women who have been inseparable best friends since school days and can do anything for each other, especially when finding love. It’s an easy watch we all deserve at the end of the day.
9. Girls Love (2016)
Girls Love is a short lesbian love story. The lead, He Jia Ying (Yu Xiao Rou), and Vespa Miller (Mi Le) did an amazing job. The report showcases two Girls in College who are roommates. Both have a strong attraction for the other person. At the same time, one of them is confident about being gay and a tomboy, whereas on the other hand the other one is supportive but struggles with her feelings. This film is worth watching. If you have a heartbeat, you’ll love it.
10. Mulan (1998) (2020)
Mulan is the most well-known Chinese animated plus live-action movie. Mulan is the one of the strongest female characters I have come across, from taking her father’s place in the Chinese military during the patriarchal regime by disguising herself as a man to finally winning the war against the Hun invasion. Mulan is a must-watch. The direction and visuals are marvelous.
