Weblog with daily updates of the news on a frugal, fair and beautiful China, from the perspective of internet entrepreneur, new media advisor and president of the China Speakers Bureau Fons Tuinstra
Consumer spending in China might be in the doldrums, but a remarkable exception is the movie industry, says business analyst Ben Cavender in the Wall Street Journal. Visiting film theaters has become an affordable time out for friends and families of more tight-fisted consumers, he says. The planned expansion of the number of theaters to 5,000 per year shows the industry’s optimism. Also: domestic movies are doing better than the previously popular foreign competitors.
“Black Dog”– A Canine-Themed, Cannes-Winning Chinese Film
What a film! The synopsis might not grab you at first glance, but “Black Dog”, a western-meets-noir, exceeded my expectations. Starring Eddie Peng as Lang, an ex-convict, the story follows his return to his semi-deserted hometown on the outskirts of the Gobi Desert after serving time for a local man’s death. As Lang navigates a barren landscape haunted by packs of stray dogs, he joins a dog-hunting team and encounters a scrappy black stray. The bond they form transforms Lang’s life. Like the dog, Lang is an outsider, and their connection reflects his own struggle for redemption.
This Cannes Un Certain Regard winner stands as a richly deserved accolade—a poignant narrative beautifully told. The film’s themes of friendship, redemption, and the profound relationship between humans and animals thread seamlessly through the story, touching on the universal human experience of seeking belonging in an indifferent world.
Watching “Black Dog” felt like a breath of fresh air—original and enigmatic. From the first frame, I was drawn into Lang’s world, captivated by the tension of what might come next.
The cinematography is stunning. The Gobi landscape feels vast and unforgiving, providing a fitting backdrop for Lang’s quiet internal journey. Both leads, the black dog and the brooding and handsome 帅哥 Lang, captivate in their own way. Even the film’s deadpan humor cuts through the solemnity, adding layers of charm.
The film is undeniably Chinese, rooted in the gritty realism of its setting: dilapidated residential buildings, the character “拆” (demolish) on crumbling walls, a grandmother sitting stoically as life passes by. Yet its story transcends borders—at its heart is a tale of a lonely man and a stray dog, something people from anywhere in the world can relate to.
One minor complain is that there are too many accidents – buses and motorbikes crash too many times – that it feels a bit contrived there. Overall, however, “Black Dog” is a triumph of subtle storytelling, its landscape and characters lingering long after the credits roll.
Box office revenue for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, was beaten by a local romantic movie, showing US movies do not automatically win in China. US classics to not have the following in China, they have at home, says business analyst Ben Cavenderto CNBC.
CNBC:
"[T]his is a franchise which has always struggled in China ... the cult following just doesn't exist," Ben Cavender, principal at consultancy China Market Research Group, told CNBC.
He attributed the less-than-outstanding performance of "The Last Jedi" at the Chinese box office to the lack of "generational awareness" among Chinese consumers of the franchise.
The first three films in the series, which first began in 1977, were never shown in theaters on the mainland. In fact, the first Hollywood film shown theatrically after the Cultural Revolution was "The Fugitive" — which coincidentally also starred "Star Wars" actor Harrison Ford — in 1994.
In order to tackle that lack of awareness ahead of the mainland release of "The Force Awakens" two years ago, Disney carried out large-scale marketing campaigns that included positioning 500 white-armored stormtroopers on the Great Wall to drum up hype around the film.
Disney also recruited popular Chinese singer Lu Han to star in a themed music video ahead of the mainland release of "The Force Awakens" back in 2016.
This year, cast and crew members of "The Last Jedi" — including actress Daisy Ridley, actor Mark Hamill and director Rian Johnson — attended a premiere at Shanghai Disney Resort some two weeks ahead of the film's mainland release to drum up support.
Meanwhile, the relative popularity of the latest "The Ex-File" sequel could also be due to Chinese consumers becoming more attached to local "story-driven" films, Cavender said, citing the outperformance of "Wolf Warrior 2" last year.
