The City Images Via Films

Whether the term of 'city film in Chongqing' stands remains to be deliberated. The films in Chongqing were named as Chongqing film during the War of Resistance Against Japan as far as the publication of THE ESSAYS OF CHONGQING AND CHINA FILMS FOCUSING ON THE WAR OF RESISTANCE AGAINST JAPAN. Emphasized on the development of the films in Chongqing, they are not confined in the war period, not only the films filmed in Chongqing but also the films focused on Chongqing. Chongqing film is constructed by three levels in time therefore, whether all the films ranging from the war to today still has to be deliberated. However, this definition needs to be proved by history. Since the development of Chongqing film after 2000 can not be ignored, all of these films are defined as the area film in Chongqing temporarily.The film in which Chongqing was discovered through the Chinese film history got in touch with the people in the year 1938. Before that, Chongqing was no more than a looker-on letting alone an assistant. In contrast, Chongqing film made great progress, consisting of three levels. Each level represents various themes.The history made Chongqing stand in the frontline confronting so many ventures and barriers, experiencing those historical events and people. The political, economic and social factors constitute the first level of the Chongqing film development which raised the nation determination to fight for the Japanese. Chongqing films concentrated on the nation, using all the methods to serve the war. The main concept of the film is nation.Chongqing was the capital temporarily during the war. When the Chinese people succeeded in defeating the enemies, Chongqing was no longer the centre. So was the status of Chongqing film. However, because Chongqing was once attached so high importance, it came out in the Chinese film occasionally for its historical reasons. The combination purely by the political elements between Chongqing and film faded away. Since then the appearance of Chongqing film presented after the establishment of People's Republic of China. In this period, film and political movement were intensely related. The theme of Chongqing film became the class including the struggle against the enemy but also the class combat.After being the municipality directly under the Central Government in 1977, Chongqing had been more prosperous in politics, economy under the new challenges. The outlook of Chongqing and the places of interest kept on developing day and night, moreover, all of those made Chongqing more fascinating. So many significant events produced so many topics, offering so many constructive materials. People's life improved dramatically as the time past. Since 2001, a number of directors has been getting in touch with Chongqing for its unique Chongqing style and features, choosing Chongqing as the story background. They portray the contemporary Chongqing, including people in Chongqing, natural conditions and social customs of Chongqing. These films tell the modern stories of city and people, describing the environment of Chongqing or even selecting Chongqing as the background. This phenomenon represents a new field in the urbanization of the Chinese film. Differentiating from the first level, this results from the directors' active choice. The personal creative work of film gradually caused the transformation of people's concern. This transformation again produced the combination of Chongqing and Chinese film.As a result, this essay starts from the area film in Chongqing, tries to represent the exact scene of film during those three levels, inquires into the hidden political, economic and cultural factors, appreciates the image of Chongqing and tastes the unique Chongqing style via films.