Introduction: Revisiting the Field of Chinese Ecocinema

The Introduction discusses the latest developments in the study of Chinese-language ecocinema. It first maps out the theoretical perimeters and traces the critical genealogy of non-anthropocentric humanistic studies, which have laid the foundation for the contemporary environmental turn in film studies. It then teases out the underlying dynamics of the paradigm of Chinese-language ecocinema by critically investigating the three key words in this discourse—“Chinese,” “Ecology,” and “Film.” We argue that “Chinese-language Ecocinema” is not only a type of film, a body of works, but it is also a critical perspective through which we view and study cinematic productions. Further, we believe that what also characterizes Chinese-language ecocinema is its interventional potency that will make changes to our environment and humanity. Finally, we introduce some eco-films that have shaped the scene of contemporary Chinese-language ecocinema.