Encyclopedia of Chinese Film

This work offers comprehensive coverage at a time when Chinese cinema has won international acclaim through the work of directors like Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou (mainland China), John Woo (Hong Kong), and Hou Hsiao-hsien (Taiwan). Six incisive historical essays precede the main body of entries on film people, synopses, genres, studios, and subjects. The essays alone offer great assistance, but when they are coupled with the cross-referenced entries and the handsome photographs, the work's value crystallizes. A thorough bibliography, multiple indexes, and an annotated list of select websites further enhance the volume. In addition, an effective use of fonts assists the reader in exploring this rich topical purview, and a glossary of Pinyin romanizations?Chinese characters and their English equivalents?will undoubtedly aid scholars. Highly recommended for all academic libraries; there is no comparable reference.