While zero Chinese films have made the shortlist at the ongoing 73rd Venice International Film Festival, one Chinese film that premiered at the festival has managed to capture the attention of the media.
Ni zai na (Where are you), or Breathing as it is known in English, is a crime film focusing on child trafficking.
Crime films have become a popular genre in China in recent years. From Saving Mr. Wu to The Dead End, a number of crime films have been critical hits with moviegoers. In 2014, Peter Chan's Dearest, starring actress Zhao Wei, also focused on child trafficking in China. It screened at the Venice International Film Festival with the cast and crew appearing on the red carpet.
This time, it's Breathing that has captured the world's attention with its focus on two serious topics - child trafficking and domestic violence.
Unlike other crime films which usually tell their stories from a man's point of view, Breathing starts from the standpoint of a woman who has suffered domestic violence and then has to deal with the cruel fact that her son has been kidnapped. The film follows her as she spares no effort to get her child back.
The film's director Fan Haolun told media at the festival that he insisted on the use of handheld cameras for the film as they were more suitable for capturing the unique atmosphere of small towns in China.
"Chinese films should not just blindly try to compete with Hollywood films, otherwise they will gradually lose the dignity that films should possess," Fan said, according to a report from China Radio International.
Although no films made into the final competition in Venice, Chinese filmmakers are having some success at other international film festivals.
Chinese-French co-production Night Peacock starring Crystal Liu and Liu Ye, was awarded first prize at the Special Chinese Film Festival at the ongoing 40th Montreal World Film Festival. This also marked the first time Crystal Liu has been nominated for best actress at an international film festival.
Wang Xuebo's Knife in the Clear Water, which focuses on the lives of Muslims living in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, was selected for the New Currents program at the 21st Busan International Film Festival, which will be held from October 6-15.
Three other Chinese films were also selected for the same program, Someone to Talk to by Liu Yulin, The Donor by Zang Qiwu and White Ant by Taiwanese director Chu Hsien-che.
Fan said that making up the second largest film market in the world, Chinese audiences' ability to appreciate film is improving, which means many are looking to watch films about different topics and making use of different narrative techniques.
"Films display a sincerity that comes from the heart and guards against arrogance and rashness. Studying films will keep us from losing ourselves in film market and promote film market reform," he said.
