Born in 1906, Fei Mu began his filmmaking career in the booming Shanghai cinema of the Thirties. Like so much of the best Chinese cinema of the period, his works revealed a strong engagement with the political and social issues of his day, yet what distinguishes his films is his acute sense of individual psychology. His characters are never mere social types, but richly drawn, often ambiguous souls attempting to deal with rapidly changing realities as well as they can. This can be most clearly seen in his masterpiece, Spring in a Small Town, considered by many critics to be the finest Chinese film made before the modern era; the film refuses to take sides in the amorous triangle it explores, preferring instead to outline each character’s reasons and perspective.

Thanks to the help of our friends at the China Film Archive, we are at last able to offer this sampling of work by this major film artist. Don’t miss Confucius, a remarkable rendition of the philosopher’s life that has only recently been restored. On September 17 at 4:15pm join us for a panel discussion: “Fei Mu and Pre-War Chinese Cinema.” Three noted film scholars from the China Film Archive will join American scholars for a discussion of director Fei Mu's art and legacy. Admission is free; complimentary tickets at the box office, on a first come, first served basis.