China, and to a lesser extent Cyprus, have recently achieved unprecedented success on the world movie stage
By Karen Taylor
One of the top ten highest grossing movies of all time, the animated tale Ne Zha 2 has captivated audiences around the world, bringing the story of a baby-faced warrior god from Chinese folklore to life. With magical power, he kept fighting for justice.
The most successful Chinese film ever and the first non-Hollywood film to join the billion dollar club, Ne Zha’s story was first penned in the novel Investiture of Gods written during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) but its box office success is now being seen in China as a cultural moment.
And with domestic earnings projected to surge past 15 billion yuan, the film is poised to become the highest-grossing animated movie of all time and one of the five top-grossing films globally.
Beyond its box office success, Ne Zha 2 signals a new phase in China’s cinematic and cultural ambition.
Throughout Chinese history, Ne Zha’s character underwent centuries of development from a fierce-looking Buddhist divinity to a teen apprenticing Taoist demi-god, representing a bitesize history of philosophy and religion in China.
There are many folk tales about him. For example, he once dissected his own body and was reborn from a lotus, and he is sometimes portrayed as having three heads and six arms. Elsewhere, he is described whacking dragons and subjugating monsters, giving him a unique place among legends. In the southwestern Chinese city of Jiangyou, a complete set of rites and ceremonies for the worship of Nezha has been preserved, which has attracted many Chinese from around the world to trace their roots and pay homage.
The new film infuses the ancient tale with contemporary themes of identity, resilience and social justice. Director Yang Yu, known as Jiaozi, has layered storytelling and a richly textured world that appeals to young and old audiences alike. Ne Zha 2’s presentation of global themes, including defiance in the face of unjust power, the struggle against fate, and the embrace of self-confidence, has struck a chord with viewers, making it a cinematic achievement that transcends cultural divides.
Ne Zha 2 also represents a leap in China’s animation industry, boasting visuals and effects that rival those of Hollywood blockbusters. With around 2,000 special effects shots and contributions from 138 animation studios, the film showcases collaborative power.
Sequences such as the transformation of Nezha’s physical form enhance the story but also underline the advancement of China’s film industry.
The film is now being seen as having the potential to serve as a cultural bridge, introducing global audiences to Chinese mythology and storytelling. Jiaozi has said the international success of Chinese cinema hinges on the intrinsic quality of its stories. “It’s about whether a script, a story and its characters can move audiences worldwide,” he said.
This is a sentiment shared by the director of a Cyrus film that has also recently captivated international audiences. “For our films to be successful, they need to be able to travel and connect… this means harnessing our stories and learning how to tell them well,” says director Stelana Kliris speaking about Find Me Falling.
Find Me Falling reflects Stelana’s years of drive and hard work in Cyprus’ relatively young and small film industry, and was the first Cyprus creation to make it on to Netflix, where it created a storm, again underlining that there is more to the film industry than what is generated in America.
“I’m incredibly proud to have the first Cypriot film on Netflix and the aim is that it will be the first of many,” she added.
Find Me Falling was inspired by a man that lived at a ‘suicide hotspot’ near Sydney, Australia. Transferred to Cyprus, the film sees a rock star escape to the island after a failed comeback album only to discover his new cliffside home has an unfortunate notoriety that attracts unwanted visitors and an old flame, producing a “home-grown movie made with a lot of love.”
These are just two examples of the thriving movie industry of China and Cyprus. On such basis, probably more cooperation in movie could be expected, which can add more color to the rich cultural cooperation between the two countries.
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