Nine Chinese arthouse movies, some of which have been shown at prestigious international film festivals, will be screened in Shenzhen this week. Some directors will talk about the movies after screening. Tickets can be bought at the cinema’s WeChat — szblhyc.

‘The Pluto Moment’

“The Pluto Moment” was screened at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. The film’s mordant prologue pokes fun at the ambitions of China’s filmmaking industry, for which international co-productions are all the rage. Independent director Wang Zhun goes to a film set in Shanghai to look for leading actress Gao Li. The French producer treats him like a stalker when in fact he is Gao’s husband.

The scene is set up to look as if he’s there to borrow money, but turns out he only wants her to star in his upcoming arthouse project. The cacophony of English, Mandarin, and Shanghainese heard on the studio set proclaims China’s new status as a cosmopolitan filmmaking hub, but it also reinforces Wang’s exclusion from this commercial, high-rolling world. Director Zhang Ming will meet the Shenzhen audience after the screening.

Time: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 18

‘Girls Always Happy’

“Girls Always Happy” is a 2018 Chinese drama film directed by Yang Mingming. It was screened in the Panorama section at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival. The movie confronts contemporary city life with a brand new perspective and portrays with astonishing precision the spectacle of mutual repulsion, hatred, and harm in a single mother-daughter relationship in a Beijing hutong. Yet from the despair grows the power of tender love.

Time: 2:30 p.m., Oct. 20

‘Ghost in the Mountains’

Director Yang Heng’s fourth feature revolves around a man’s tragic reconnections with his old friends and flames as he returns to his hometown. It was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival last year. The director will meet the Shenzhen audience after the screening.

Time: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 19

‘Three Adventures of Brooke’

Xingxi, whose Chinese name translates to Brooke, is a stranger in a strange land, although everybody in the Chinese-Malaysian population tries their best to make her feel welcome. Three times she gets a flat tire and three times Xingxi is forced to put her trip on hold. Each time, she meets someone on the road and spends three days with them. The movie directed by Zhu Yuanqing was shown at the Venice Film Festival last month. Zhu will meet the Shenzhen audience after the screening.

Time: 7 p.m., Oct. 20

‘Blue Amber’

When a traffic accident claims the life of He Jie’s husband, a substantial life insurance payment does little to heal the wound. One day, a museum tour guide’s joke about a rare piece of blue amber forces her to ponder the value of life. How much is a life worth? The movie is directed by Zhou Jie, who will meet the Shenzhen audience after the screening.

Time: 2 p.m., Oct. 21

‘Wangdrak’s Rain Boots’

In Qinghai director Lhapal Gyal’s debut, a young Tibetan boy dreams of a new pair of rubber boots. The director will meet Shenzhen audience after the screening.

Time: 4:35 p.m., Oct. 21

‘Five Wishes of A Ji’

Inner Mongolian boy A Ji has five wishes, one of which is to become a movie star. One day he gets a chance to audition and begins to learn horse-riding for his role. As he gains more confidence during the training, his movie project goes defunct. The movie is directed by Zhao Rite.

Time: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 23

‘River’s Edge’

A successful businessman’s son works as a poor teacher in a remote village. One day, the businessman learns that his son dies while saving a drowning student. When the businessman arrives at his son’s village and tries to learn about his son’s life, the father discovers the real reason behind his son’s death. The movie is directed by Wang Chao.

Time: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 25

‘Yunjie’

The movie centers on a village girl named Yunjie who lives with her grandmother and two sisters while her parents are working in Guangzhou. After her grandmother passes away, Yunjie goes to Guangzhou with her two sisters. The movie is directed by Jiang Nengjie, who will meet the Shenzhen audience after the screening.

Time: 3 p.m., Oct. 27

Venue: Broadway Cinematheque, 5/F, MixC World, Tonggu Road, Nanshan District (南山区铜鼓路深圳万象天地五楼深圳百老汇电影中心)

Metro: Line 1 to Hi-tech Park Station (高新站), Exit A

(SD News)