I met Rey Chow a few months ago in Manchester. The day began with her lecture on films , Chinese films in particular and the representation of nation and a history that never was in these films (some of which are quite famous). What struck me are the parallels in Indian cinema and the re-imagining of the nation and its past. This was followed by another seminar at The Connerhouse which involved looking at clips from Spring in a Small Town. Repression and the nation were the title I think. What struck me is how much more relevant Chinese cinema of that era was as compared to now. It didn't use common tropes or clichés but told the story of a decaying land owning class. The emphasis was on the characters and their story as opposed to the past becoming a character of its own.
This book challenged assumptions of what constituted 'Chinese culutre' especially when presented in the west. The issue of gender and it's representation were particularly important.
