Despite its journey to modernity, China is still an ancient country. That can be seen and felt in the Entertainment Industry. Chinese history sparked the interest of writers and moviemakers. These Chinese movies have narratives that rely on their settings and main protagonists, which gives us a glimpse of this beautiful country through the director's eyes. Let's have a look at these ten Chinese Movies with the plot taking place in the 1920s.
1. Farewell My Concubine
Farewell, My Concubine' is a 1993 historical drama film. It got adapted from the novel by Lilian Lee. The plot of this movie takes place in 1924, in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution. This movie has two parallel, intertwined stories. The plot revolves around two Opera performers, stage brothers, and the woman between them. At the same time, it attempts to squeeze the political history of China into a three-hour time frame.
2. Raise The Red Lantern
Raise the Red Lantern is a film starring Gong Li and directed by Zhang Yimou. The plot gets set in the 1920s. The story revolves around the concubines of a young woman during the Era of the Warlord. After her father's death, Songlian gets forced to marry Zuoqian and become his concubine. Fifty-year-old Warlord already has three wives, living in separate houses within the castle. Every night he has to decide which wife to spend the bed with, and a red lantern gets lit in front of the house.
3. The Last Emperor
The Last Emperor is a Biographical drama film about the life of the final Emperor of China, Puyi. The plot takes place in the early 1910s. The Emperor of China, Puyi, has been in custody since his capture by the Red Army. Puyi arrives as a war criminal and political prisoner at the Fushun Prison, where he attempts suicide but gets rescued. He got sheltered from outside influences and complex politics during his childhood.
4. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a movie set in early nineteenth-century China, the years of the Qing Dynasty. Li Mu Bai entrusts his legendary Green Destiny sword to a female warrior, Yu Shu Lien, with the weapon to deliver it to the Governor to mark the end of his blood-stained career. But Shu Lien is on the trail of the skilled burglar.
5. 1911
1911 is a historical drama film based on the founding of China when the nationalist forces overthrew the Qing Dynasty. China is in crisis at the beginning of the 20th century. The country gets split, citizens starve, and political reforms worsen. The Qing Dynasty, led by a seven-year-old emperor and his mother, Dowager Longyu, gets out of touch after years of power. Huang Xing returned from Japan, where he studied modern warfare. After seeing his country falling apart, he picks up the sword.
6. The Flowers Of War
The Flowers of War is a 2011 historical drama film starring Christian Bale, Ni Ni, Tong Dawei, and Atsuro Watabe. Japan invaded China in 1937. John, a mortician, arrives at the Catholic Church to prepare a priest for burial. He finds himself the lone adult among a group of girl students and prostitutes from a brothel. He finds himself in an unwanted position of protector from the horrors of the invading Japanese army and discovers the meaning of sacrifice.
7. Ip Man
Ip Man is a 2008 biographical martial arts movie based on the life of a grandmaster of Wing Chun, Ip Man. The movie focuses on the life events of Ip Man during the Sino-Japanese War. In 1935 in South China, martial arts schools were everywhere. Ip Man is the undisputed champion but did not devote himself to teaching. Despite this, the kung fu masters are eager to fight him to improve their reputation.
8. Yan Ruisheng
Yan Ruisheng is a 1921 film directed by Pengnian Ren. The plot revolves around a sensational murder in Shanghai, a high-profile case, and an ongoing topic in the city's numerous clubs, cafes, and teahouses.
9. Fearless
Fearless is a 2006 martial arts film by Ronny Yu, starring Jet Li. The plot gets based on the life of Huo Yuanjia, a martial artist who challenged foreign fighters. Yuanjia is the founder and spiritual teacher of the JinWu Sports Federation.
10. The Road Home
The Road Home is a 1999 drama film by Yimou Zhang. The plot is about a city businessman, Luo Yusheng, who returns to his village for his father's funeral, the village teacher. His mother insists on observing the traditional customs, although times have changed. People carried his father's body back to the village after the burial.
