Saving Mother 1984

Another classic film from Shanghai Animation Film Studio, "Saving Mother" was one of the most popular animations in China. The story is based on the traditional Chinese folklore about a boy named Chen Xiang. His mother was a goddess and his father a mortal. His uncle, Erlang Shen, punished Chen Xiang's parents because their marriage was against the rules of the heavens. Chen Xiang's mother was locked in a mountain until her son split the mountain and saved her.

The Mystery R4 1982

Death Ray on Coral Island 1980

Said to be the first science-fiction film produced in China (and perhaps having its North American theatrical premiere in Future Imperfect?), Death Ray on Coral Island spares no bile, camp, or latent envy in portraying America as the cunning archenemy that will stop at nothing—industrial espionage, assassinations, even ballroom dancing—to steal China’s futuristic weaponry. The film occupies a pivotal moment in China’s modern history, representing a legacy of the Great Cultural Revolution and a harbinger of the nation’s ascension on the global economic stage. Courtesy of the China Film Archive and Shanghai Film Group.