Best of China’s movies in Cebu’s first Chinese film fest

Historical chroniclers claim that as early as 977 A.D., Chinese traders were offering their goods for barter on Philippine shores. This began during the Sung Dynasty, progressively moving on into the Ming period and, not surprisingly, continuing excellently well till today.

Filipino-Sino relations naturally brought about the assimilation of some Chinese noble traits, like respect for elders, patience, frugality and forbearance and even a few borrowed words. However, the wheels of history took on a different turn. Various Western influences have reached our islands and somehow seemed to tamper this particular part of our rich cultural heritage.

However, the attraction and fascination for anything Chinese still persists. The multitude who marched to SM City Cebu for the first ever Chinese film festival proved this admiration and love for almost everything Chinois.

Through the cooperative efforts of the ever-so-active in cultural affairs Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Cebu and the dynamic Arts Council of Cebu Inc., the standing-room-only three-day festival featured half a dozen contemporary award-winning films, all subtitled in English.

Cocktails with a never-seen-before selection of dim sum, as could only be created by Creative Cuisine headed by hands-on top honcho Derek Dytian, was served before the premier screening, where invitees, many of whom came dressed in Chinese-influenced attire, enjoyed the lively, colorful lion dance while excellent wine flowed, hopefully to capture and drive away the evil spirits and calm the good ones.

Shortly after, guests were ushered into SM City Cebu’s Theater One where consul general Wu Lianqi, Arts Council vice president Vivina Chiu and event chair Elvira Luym warmly welcomed everyone with their short but heartfelt messages.

The film Not One Less by director Zhang Yimou revolved around an adolescent substitute teacher in a rural Chinese village who overcame difficulties to find a lost student. It captivated the audience with a pleasant mixture of emotions – humor, sadness, and joy. The movie won the Golden Lion Award in the 56th Venice International Film Festival.

Among those present during the affair were prominent members of the Cebu Chinese community led by philanthropist Felisa Chiongbian, trader and entrepreneurs Enrico Ang, Ramon Chiu, Lim Liu, Chua He and Mariano Tan.

The succeeding days saw the showing of other Chinese films, such as The Road Home, also by Yimou, Lotus Lantern by Chang Guangxi, Postmen in the Mountain by Huo Jianqi, Shower by Zhang Yang and Lover’s Grief over the Yellow River by Feng Xiaoning.

The festival provided insights on Chinese folklore, values and tradition. Appreciation of art films has definitely come of age in Cebu.