French movies bridge generations across borders

Four decades ago, on a rural film set in southern China, the young Jiang Wen, a Chinese film director and actor, kept an unlikely source of inspiration close at hand: a dictionary, of which the cover bearing an image of French actress Sophie Marceau.

It was 1986, and Jiang was filming Hibiscus Town. Each time he flipped through the dictionary to study his script, he would catch sight of Marceau's photograph.

"That picture was bought locally,"Jiang recalls. "At that time, everyone knew about French cinema and Sophie Marceau. I even felt as though she were part of the film."

On March 25, the two artists appeared together at the French embassy in China, reunited not by chance but by cinema itself. They were named ambassadors for the 2026 French Cinema Panorama, a traveling showcase of contemporary French films that will run from March through June across several Chinese cities.

Marceau, long a household name among Chinese audiences, has influenced generations of filmgoers in the country. In recent years, she has made frequent visits to China, attending cultural events and meeting fans. Speaking at the event, she expresses gratitude for the role cinema plays in connecting her to Chinese audiences.

"Every time I come, what I enjoy most is the food and sitting around the table with friends."

Yet her remarks also strike a more reflective tone. "We are living through a somewhat difficult period, but cinema allows artists to come together and share beautiful things."

Quoting the French New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard, she adds:"When you go to the cinema, you raise your head. When you watch television, you lower it," she pauses before extending the thought. "And when you look at your phone, your head drops even lower."

Jiang, known for his wit, jokes that "cinema is invented by the French", adding that it is an honor to serve as an "ambassador" at the French Embassy.

Marceau gently counters: "Even without the French, cinema would be invented." She hopes to one day promote Chinese films at the Chinese embassy in France.

This year's showcase features 11 recent French films, including That Summer in Paris, which is selected for the Berlin International Film Festival. Its director, Valentine Cadic, attends the Beijing event and is expected to engage directly with Chinese audiences during screenings.

The film follows a young woman from rural France who travels to Paris to attend the Olympic Games, offering a quiet meditation on how ordinary individuals navigate large-scale global events. Cadic describes the work as an exploration of both loneliness and joy in urban life.

"In a city, especially during something as overwhelming as the Olympics, people can feel both isolated and exhilarated. That's a universal feeling — in China, as well."

Cadic also notes her admiration for the 2024 Chinese film Her Story, directed by Shao Yihui. "Comedy is very difficult, but she does it so well."

For organizers, the challenge remains how to broaden the reach of French cinema in China. Daniela Elstner, the head of the French film promotion organization Unifrance, points to a dual strategy: established stars like Marceau, who are already beloved by Chinese audiences, and emerging directors like Cadic, who can connect with viewers in new ways.

The showcase, organized by Unifrance and co-hosted by the French embassy in China, is held annually since 2004 as part of the "Festival Croisements", a broader initiative promoting cultural exchange between China and France.

According to Ambassador Bertrand Lortholary, the event becomes a highly anticipated fixture for Chinese audiences. "Each year, it brings outstanding French films and creates opportunities for audiences to engage directly with filmmakers."