Chinese New Year is celebrated in other countries other than mainland China. It is also observed in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore as well as in other nations where there is a large Chinese population.
Besides the traditional journey back home to the province for family reunions, which billions of Chinese did days before Jan. 28, many Chinese would watch movies during the Spring Festival. In mainland China, they have six local movies to choose from.
Local Choices
Experts believe that among the six Chinese films being offered, it would be Stephen Chow’s “Journey to the West 2: The Demons Strike Back” which would be a big hit, CFI reported. However, many doubt if it could duplicate or surpass the monster hit of 2016, Stephen Chow’s “The Mermaid” which comprised the bulk of the 3.56 billion ($548 million) box-office results of last year’s Chinese New Year film festival for the first seven days.
Another movie expected to be patronized by locals is “Buddies in India,” directed by Wang Baoqiang, a popular Chinese comedian. Other movies in the line-up include Jackie Chan’s “Kung Fu Yoga,” the children’s animated film “Bonnie Bears: Entangled Worlds” and “The Village of No Return.”
Netflix’s List
For other countries outside China, since Spring Festival is usually not a week-long national holiday unlike in mainland China, the local Chinese communities’ alternative for movie buffs is to watch Chinese films that video streaming site Netflix has prepared for the occasion. These films are considered classic Chinese movies exhibited the past few years but still worth streaming again for first-time and repeat viewers.
The recommended movies are the 2013 romance film “The Stolen Years,” the 1973 action classic “Rumble in Hong-Kong/Police Woman,” “May We Chat,” “Not One Less,” “The Way We Dance,” “Monk Comes Down the Mountain,” “Champions,” “So Young,” “Jump” and “Dot 2 Dot,” Inuth listed.