Debate on Feminism in China with Dział Zagraniczny

About the event

“Her Story” has become a phenomenon reaching far beyond cinema - a voice for women who began to speak about their everyday lives with unprecedented honesty. The film, built on precise, razor-sharp dialogue, powerfully captures the emotions of contemporary Chinese women and men: frustration, hope, irony, and a yearning for community and change. Its success exceeded all expectations - achieving an impressive box office result in China and proving that stories about women’s agency and equality can move mass audiences and become part of a broader social debate. “Her Story” will thus serve as a starting point for a discussion on the state on the state of feminism in contemporary China. 

As part of the meeting, we will also return to the roots. “The Arch”, featured in the festival programme, was one of the first proto-feminist films in Chinese-language cinema - a bold portrayal of female desire and independence that, as early as the 1970s, paved the way for women’s narratives in East Asia. Placing these two titles side by side allows us to trace over half a century of the female gaze in Chinese cinema, from subtle modernism to sharp, contemporary diagnosis.

During the debate, we will discuss how the cinematic portrayal of women in China has evolved, what forms of resistance against patriarchal structures take place today, and why the screen remains one of the most vital spaces of feminist voices. 

The debate is organised in collaboration with Dział Zagraniczny and will be hosted by Michalina Kowel, co-author of a podcast episode dedicated to the “Her Story” phenomenon in China.

Debate is held in Polish only.