Cinema PROSA
With this film cycle, PROSA aims to offer a sober and reflective perspective, this time focusing on the new Chinese cinema from 2000 to 2020. The carefully selected films for this cycle, organized by PROSA Cultural Platform, take center stage in exploring the cinematic landscape.
During this period, China underwent profound transformations, both culturally and economically. The contemporary Chinese cinema mirrors this evolution by addressing universal themes with a unique sensibility. Jia Zhangke's "STILL LIFE" (2006), for instance, captures the radical changes in China's urban landscape, delving into intimate stories amidst rapid development.
Bo Hu's "AN ELEPHANT SITTING STILL" (2018) presents a cinematic epic that mirrors disillusionment and the quest for meaning amid life's adversities. Wang Bing's "MAN WITH NO NAME" (2010) stands out for its raw approach, providing a poignant look at the fringes of Chinese society and human freedom.
"LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO THE NIGHT" (2018) by Bi Gan transcends conventional narrative boundaries, immersing audiences in a unique sensory experience. This selection reveals the diversity of voices within the new Chinese cinema, each contributing to a rich and multifaceted narrative. Notably, the film serves as a contemporary treatise on human perception of time, featuring an ambitious 59-minute long continuous shot in its final scene, inviting viewers to a profound immersion into the space and time of the story.
In observing these films, one cannot help but notice the natural subversion of Chinese cinema, offering social critique and resisting the established economicist perspective. PROSA Cultural Platform, renowned for its compelling and incisive film cycles, takes a philosophical approach that goes beyond mere cinematic appreciation. Post-screening discussions delve into factual, psychological, and narratological analyses, providing a deeper understanding of the presented narratives.
As an additional invitation for contemplation, after a dedicated cycle to new Korean cinema (2000-2020) in July 2023, PROSA announces a forthcoming cycle in March dedicated to new Japanese cinema (2000-2020). This cinematic journey promises to continue exploring the nuances of the human condition, expanding the horizon of understanding through the lens of contemporary cinema.
Thank you for joining us on this journey, and see you soon!
NEW CHINESE CINEMA
(2000 - 2020) Screenings
“STILL LIFE” 2006 | M/12 | 1h 51’ (San xia hao ren - CN)
By Jia Zhangke
Friday Dec. 08 at 7:30pm
A town in Fengjie County is being gradually demolished and flooded to make way for the Three Gorges Dam. A man and a woman visit the city to locate their estranged spouses and witness social changes.
“AN ELEPHANT SITTING STILL” 2018 | M/16 | 3h50’ (Da xiang xidi erzuo - CN)
By Bo Hu
Saturday Dec. 09 at 7:30pm (With Intermission)
Four people in a Chinese city live a complicated day when their lives intersect.
“MAN WITH NO NAME” 2010 | M/12 | 1h 32’ (Wu ming zhe - CN)
By Wang Bing
Friday Dec. 15 at 7:30pm
Man with No Name is an intimate portrait of an anonymous man who lives in a deserted wasteland in an unnamed part of China. He lives in an underground cave, in a harsh and otherworldly landscape that appears to be completely isolated from civilization.
“LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO THE NIGHT” 2018 | M/16 | 2h18’ (Diqiu zuihou de yewan - CN)
By Bi Gan
Saturday Dec. 16 at 7:30pm
A man returned to Guizhou, found the tracks of a mysterious woman. He remembers the summer he spent with her twenty years ago.
All Cinema PROSA films will be shown on an illuminated pixel (65’’ QLED screen) in a room with a maximum of 24 spectators.
Members: Free entry.
Non-members: 3€
Trailers here: