In Shanghai, the birthplace of Chinese film, you will encounter better times and a more beautiful life.

Designer: Yu Fei

My Shanghai Film Festival List

Recommender: Liu Chun (Associate Researcher, Institute of Literature, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, 41 years old)

"Pepe" (2024): A contemporary Latin American magical realism political allegory, won the Silver Bear Award for Best Director at the 74th Berlin Film Festival.

Breathless (1960): Godard's first feature film and a classic masterpiece of the French New Wave.

"Jules and Jim" (1962): Truffaut's masterpiece, the masterpiece of the "French New Wave", the deep affection, madness and obsession of the three people traveling together, a masterpiece that has been paid tribute to by many movies since its birth.

"Cooler Than Death" (1969): Fassbinder's famous work. The great sadness of life behind the tortuous experience is moving.

"Youth in Flames" (1982): One of the representative works of Hong Kong New Wave director Patrick Tam, director's cut version. On the big screen, brother Leslie Cheung is youthful, passionate, confused and sad, and Maggie Cheung in her twenties is so beautiful that people can't bear to look away.

"Metropolis" (1927): A masterpiece of science fiction movies. Here are some of the classic scenes that have been imitated and paid tribute to by later generations.

"2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968): The most unlikely work in the history of science fiction films to be ignored. The only question is whether you can get a ticket.

"Ghost in the Shell" (1995): After its release, this work has had a profound influence on animated films, science fiction films and even humanistic thoughts.

"Inside Sand" (2024): Director Yang Yishu's works have always had a unique female perspective and cultural implications, and his new work is worth paying attention to.

"Departure" (2024): Continuing the landscape aesthetics of "Above the Clouds" directed by Liu Zhihai, starting from the real situation and inner heart of the characters, entering the spiritual world of the young Mao Zedong, and opening up new paths for red themes and artistic expression.

"The Eternal Wave" (2024): The film expression of a classic stage play rooted in the cultural texture of Shanghai will surely become another dazzling business card of Shanghai culture.

"Another Day Full of Hope" (2023): An accident involving a food delivery platform executive and a food delivery driver, who is at a disadvantage and who has their own difficulties. Reality is imperfect and the truth is grim. Tomorrow is another day full of hope.

Hana to Alice Murder Case (2015): Both directed by Shunji Iwai, the difference between the animation and the live-action drama is not just the way of expression. Which one do you like better?

"The Origin of Lies" (2023): If you like the movie "Casablanca", you can't miss this documentary that takes you into the real Casablanca. History, current situation, memory, and emotion are intertwined. It won the Golden Eye Award for Best Documentary at the Cannes Film Festival.

"Perfect Blue" (1997): Kon Satoshi's first animated feature film, which fully demonstrates his directorial talent and artistic style.

"Paprika" (2006): Kon Satoshi's masterpiece. The film's animation expression, aesthetic exploration and philosophical thinking are not to be missed.

"French Fondue" (2023): A new film by Chen Yingxiong, chairman of this year's Shanghai International Film Jury, starring Juliette Binoche. It uses food to express deep love and show the uniqueness and depth of a free soul.

"I Want to Talk about Duras" (2021): Duras' last partner tells his story with Duras. Although I feel a little unclean about telling private life, since he has told it, I might as well take a look.

"Goddess" (1934): Ruan Lingyu was born for movies. This critical, artistic and ideological film has become immortal because of her.

"Hiroshima mon amour" (1959): Written by Margaret Duras and directed by Alain Resnais, it is one of the representative works of stream-of-consciousness films, full of historical metaphors and emotional tension.

"A Man and a Woman" (2024): There is no reason not to watch the new work directed by Guan Hu.

"Sunshine Club" (2024): This is the new work directed by Wei Shujun after "The Mistake by the River", and the cast is intriguing.

"The Stars Are Waiting for Us" (2024): A new film directed by Zhang Dalei, one of the finalists for the Golden Goblet Awards. This year was really competitive, but moviegoers enjoyed it very much.

"Hedgehog" (2024): Directed by Gu Changwei, starring Ge You and Wang Junkai, adapted from the novel by Zheng Zhi, one of the "Three Great Writers of the New Northeast". Will it be comparable to "The Long Season" and become the film and television double wall of the "Northeast Renaissance"?

"Gangetic Woman" (1974): An experimental film directed by Duras, exploring her understanding of love from a philosophical and psychological perspective.

"Perfect Days" (2023): Directed by Wim Wenders and starring Koji Yakusho, the self-exiled literary uncle endows the daily life of cleaning public toilets with the light of divinity. He does not pretend to be profound or force new sorrows, but is just the flow of time and the discovery of the heart.

"Dead Grass" (2023): Ceylon seems to have never left his remote village. The story is told again and again, but every telling and every film is worth watching.

"Pulp Fiction" (1994): One of Quentin's masterpieces. There's not much to say about it. The only hope is to get tickets or get free tickets.

"The Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (2004): Can love be forgotten, or can one decide for oneself? Neither.

"Havoc in Heaven" (1961): China's first color animated feature film, which has influenced generations of creators and audiences and is a monument in the history of animation.

"Murder on the Orient Express" (1974): I have not seen any adaptation that can surpass this one.

Once Upon a Time in America (1984): It’s such a classic. One of the joys of a film festival is revisiting classics on the big screen and finding like-minded friends in the theater.

La Strada (1954): One of Fellini's masterpieces. She is small, humble, stupid and funny, but so sincere and affectionate. Her life is like an ant, who can rely on her?

"When My Father Was Alive" (1942): The story of a father and son fully demonstrates Ozu's restrained warmth and his everlasting regret for the times.

"Hard Boiled" (1989): John Woo's masterpiece of violent aesthetics, the cinema relives the romance and prosperity of Hong Kong's golden age.

"Princess Iron Fan" (1941): A milestone in early animated films, the first animated feature film in China and even Asia, it has had a huge influence on many animation masters including Osamu Tezuka and Hayao Miyazaki. This screening is the world premiere of the restored version.

It Happened One Night (1934): A Hollywood classic in the early days of talkies and an early Oscar winner. The reverse Cinderella story of a rich girl and a poor boy is still moving today.

"Onmyoji" (2024): Also adapted from the novel by Baku Yumemakura. With previous TV series and multiple film versions, I wonder what kind of surprises this version will bring.

"The Wizard of Oz" (1939): Just have another beautiful dream and believe in the beauty that you are willing to believe in.

Queen Live in Montreal (2024): The only concert in the band's history to be filmed.

"Past Life" (2023): A reflection on identity, ethnic culture, generational differences, and cultural migration from an immigrant perspective. But beyond these topics, the most moving thing is the emotional surge of two middle-aged people who cannot get love under their forbearance and restraint. Is it fate, destiny, or self? If love has regrets, please take a pack of tissues and go again.

"Imagine Light" (2024): Indian female director Kapadia won the Jury Prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival with this film. It is also the first Indian film to win the grand prize again after 30 years. It tells the real dilemmas and emotions of contemporary Indian women.

"A Bug's Story" (2018): Czech animation film master Svankmajer personally talks about his creative process, which to some extent is also an overall review and self-analysis of the director's own works.

"Man of Kabul" (2023): As a way of commemorating and paying tribute to him, it is appropriate to watch a film adapted by an Indian director based on Tagore's masterpiece.

"Daughter Wang Lianxiang" (1920): Lubitsch's masterpiece, with live jazz accompaniment. Should I put red wine in a thermos and sneak it into the theater to drink while watching?