The Urban Generation

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Since the early 1990s, as mainland China’s state-owned movie studios faced financial and ideological challenges, a vibrant alternative cinema known as the “Urban Generation” has emerged. This movement is driven by young filmmakers influenced by the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square events in 1989. These directors share a creative engagement with the significant economic and social changes in China, serving as interpreters of the confusion and anxiety stemming from rapid urbanization. This collection features original research on this emerging cinema and its ties to Chinese society. Contributors analyze the historical and social contexts that birthed the Urban Generation, its aesthetic innovations, and its complex relationship with both the mainstream film industry and the international market. The essays emphasize the Urban Generation’s sense of social urgency, documentary style, and portrayals of gender and sexuality, focusing on characters like aimless bohemians, petty thieves, and migrant workers, often depicted by non-professional actors. Some essays examine specific films, such as Shower and Suzhou River, or filmmakers like Jia Zhangke and Zhang Yuan, while others address broader themes. Together, the thirteen essays provide a multifaceted account of this significant cinematic and cultural phenomenon.