Before and After--An Alternative Scan of Early Chinese Cinema

Author: Zhang Wei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: A Glimpse into the Past is a distinctive work. It discusses nearly a hundred Chinese and foreign films that I mostly watched decades ago (some of which were even starring me). Now, having the chance to revisit them, I feel particularly close to them. The author has put in hard work collecting literature and also has unique perspectives, so they avoid repeating what others say. I also learned many materials for the first time, making the book both enjoyable and enlightening. I believe scholars, experts, and movie enthusiasts will all love this book. As time passes, the face of early Chinese cinema (1905–1949) has become increasingly blurred. A Glimpse into the Past uncovers film documents from this period, including newspapers, magazines, books, manuals, photographs, posters, and advertisements. It meticulously sifts through these "frozen films," delving into the unknown, vividly and engagingly showcasing many little-known facts from Chinese and foreign film history. It also deeply explores the cultural significance of early Chinese cinema and its interactive relationships with literature, art, and music, filling gaps in the history of early Chinese cinema and providing strong testimony to the century-long journey of Chinese cinema. The author has long been dedicated to compiling the history of Chinese cinema, with rigorous scholarship and remarkable achievements. This book is his latest research. Anyone interested in Chinese cinema must read it. A Glimpse into the Past is a distinctive work. It discusses nearly a hundred Chinese and foreign films that I mostly watched decades ago (some of which were even starring me). Now, having the chance to revisit them, I feel particularly close to them. The author has put in hard work collecting literature and also has unique perspectives, so they avoid repeating what others say. I also learned many materials for the first time, making the book both enjoyable and enlightening. I believe scholars, experts, and movie enthusiasts will all love this book.