A film made especially to mark the one-hundredth anniversary of Chinese filmmaking has just premiered at an outdoor cinema in Beijing. Electric Shadows is also the directorial debut for Xiao Jiang.
The film revolves around the members of family who have a passion for outdoor cinema in 1970s' China.
Mao Dabing and Jiang Lingling are spending their childhood watching films. It's a time when the whole country is in love with films and outdoor cinemas have brought dreams and tremendous pleasure for ordinary Chinese.
One day Jiang Lingling takes her four-year-old brother to a film. But the outing turns tragic when the child dies suddenly. The death spawns far more aftermath than Jiang could have ever expected.
The film gives an affectionate look back at many Chinese films shot between the 1930's and 80's, which were shown at outdoor cinemas.
The director Xiao Jiang says the film embodies her true emotion for Chinese film.
The film went into general release on October 13.
(CCTV October 18, 2005)
