Universal themes of Chinese culture in movies bring in global audience: film professionals

VENICE/ROME, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) — Chinese traditional culture is a valuable resource for the country’s film industry, playing a significant role in bringing in a global audience, film professionals attending the 81st Venice Film Festival in Italy have said.
“Promoting Chinese culture globally through traditional cultural elements is an excellent strategy,” said Marco Muller, former chairman of the Venice International Film Festival, in an interview with Xinhua.
Traditional Chinese ink paintings possess a modern visual language that resonates with international audiences, particularly younger viewers, Muller added.
The 81st Venice Film Festival, which began on Aug. 28 in Venice, featured several Chinese traditional cultural elements, including the short film “Du Yao Mao” (“The Poison Cat”) from China in the Short Films Competition.
Director of “Du Yao Mao” Guan Tian explained to Xinhua that myths and legends from China’s diverse regions have universal appeal. His work draws on a myth from southwest China, he explained. “The contemporary relevance of these ancient stories is significant for connecting with current global cultural trends, and resonating with audiences worldwide,” he said.
Modern technology also amplifies the global reach of traditional Chinese culture. Liz Rosenthal, a consultant for the Venice festival’s section for virtual reality (VR) works, emphasized the success of last year’s Chinese piece “Chen Xiang VR”, depicting the folk tale “Lotus Lantern.”
“It was truly epic and distinctly Chinese in style,” she said. “The immersive experience, featuring giants, dragons, and sacred mountains, was astonishing.”
Muller also highlighted the success of the Chinese AAA game “Black Myth: Wukong” as an example of how traditional Chinese cultural IPs can become global cultural phenomena, blending the poetic and imaginative spirit of Chinese culture with universal appeal.
Paolo Bertolin, a consultant for the 81st Venice Film Festival, said Chinese directors are increasingly mastering commercial cinema, and producing films with international appeal. Many of these works, despite being set in traditional contexts or lesser-known regions, explore universal themes such as betrayal and loyalty, making them accessible to global audiences.
Reflecting on the success of Italy-China film collaborations, Roberto Stabile, head of Special Projects at the Directorate for Cinema-Italian Ministry of Culture at Cinecitta, pointed to ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation between producers from both countries.
“Chinese movies are always very welcome in Italy,” Stabile said. “It’s important to find the right stories from our shared histories, as both Chinese and Italian cultures are immensely rich. There’s much we can achieve together.” ■