Between Locality and Internationality: Fifth- and Sixth-generation Chinese Directors’ Films and their Translations

Abstract

Focusing on 48 Chinese films made by the representatives of the fifth- and sixth-generation directors (i.e. Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Jia Zhangke and Feng Xiaogang), this paper reveals: (1) These directors’ preferences for the themes with locality are related to the popularity of Chinese local literature except for their nostalgia for hometowns; (2) The overseas distribution of these films cannot be separated from the support of the state policies, while 1985, 1995, 1999, 2002 and 2018 are found to be five milestone years in the development of the Chinese film industry to promote international co-production and distribution; (3) Subtitling is the most popular mode translation used to distribute Chinese films in English speaking countries, and the subtitling of these films always involves English native speakers’ contribution to various degrees.