I Am What I Am [Photo via VCG]

Schemes in Antiques

Director: Guo Zijian

Leading Actors: Lei Jiayin; Li Xian; Xin Zhilei; Ge You

Release Date: December 3, 2021

The movie tells a story that the jade Buddha head looted from the Imperial Academy of Empress Wu Zetian (Ming Tang) is found to be a fake when it is returned to China. With their own intentions, Xu Yuan, Yao Buran, Huang Yanyan, Fu Gui and more people get involved in this case and together embark on a thrilling journey of treasure hunting.

The film revolves around a mystery case in the antique circle in the 1990s. This case is about a jade Buddha head and involves three generations. The film not only contains intricate and interconnected conspiracies, but also tells a legend of the rivers and lakes with all kinds of people having varied affections and faith. As a suspense and adventure film, it is a breath of fresh air for the audiences with its plot revolving around an antique.

I Am What I Am

Director: Sun Haipeng

Release Date: December 17, 2021

Drawing inspiration from the lion dance culture in Lingnan, the animated film I Am What I Am tells an inspirational story of growth. A'juan, a left-behind teenager, and her friends A'mao and A'gou participate in a lion dance competition under the training of Xianyuqiang, a retired master of lion dance. They overcome challenges and difficulties with their passion and strong will, and become the "lion" in their own heart. 

As a Chinese-style animation film produced by a local company in Guangzhou, I Am What I Am boasts excellent special effects and shows a rich Lingnan culture. It also incorporates local elements of Guangzhou in the scenes and music.

Fire on the Plain

Director: Zhang Ji

Leading Actors: Zhou Dongyu; Liu Haoran; Mei Ting; Yuan Hong; Lv Yulai; Chen Minghao

Release Date: December 24, 2021

As a romance crime movie, the film tells the story of Li Fei and Zhuang Shu, who are childhood sweethearts and reunite after eight years of separation. It depicts how they stick to their beliefs and keep waiting for their beloved one in the face of the turbulence of the times and accidents created by the fate. With their romantic story as the main clue, the film presents love, growth, waiting, belief and other core emotions of the two generations.

Embrace Again

Director: Xue Xiaolu

Leading Actors: Huang Bo; Jia Ling; Zhu Yilong; Xu Fan; Gao Yalin; Wu Yanshu; Xu Shaoxiong

Release Date: December 24, 2021

The film tells the love stories of several pairs of ordinary citizens in Wuhan during the raging of covid-19. Faced with the unexpected pandemic, they stay positive and optimistic, and support each other, showing audience reality-based and touching scenes.

Whether they are fearless volunteers or ordinary partners in Wuhan, they accompany each other and resist the "killing freeze" brought about by the pandemic with their sincere love. Each moving scene of the film is an epitome of Wuhan when it was ravaged by the pandemic.  

Another Me

Director: Gao Ke

Leading Actors: Ma Li; Chang Yuan; Ai Lun; Wei Xiang; Wang Chengsi; Du Xiaoyu; Chen Bing

Release Date: December 31, 2021

In the hilarious comedy Another Me, Yang Jiazhen is a girl from a rich family and Li Mao is a young constable. Although they are full of affection after getting married, their marriage is never accepted by the parents of Yang Jiazhen. Li Mao accidentally discovers that he looks exactly the same as the crown prince. Since Li Mao wants to enter the palace to move up the ranks, and the crown prince wants to escape the palace to get freedom, they exchange identities without realizing they gradually get involved into a conspiracy.   

With the exactly same physical appearance but living two entirely different lives, they discuss together and decide to exchange identities and start their own new life. In the film, a series of hilarious and funny scenes are staged one after another.

Advancing of ZQ 

Director: Song Yang

Leading Actors: Ai Lun; Shen Teng; Tao Hui; Zhang Qi; Han Yanbo; Bai Lina

Release Date: February 1, 2022

As a fantasy comedy, there are many unexpected settings in the movie. The actor Ai Lun plays a character that boasts a high IQ. However, the character is unexpectedly has very limited superpower and is bullied by his family members. The family that is supposed to be full of love is dominated by a love-hate relationship. The superpower given by God is not used by them to defend justice. Instead, it is used to send family members into the mire of difficulty. With an amiable smile, the major villain played by Shen Teng never lies and still looks cute even when he attempts to play tricks on people.

(Source: Youth.cn; YNET.com; China Youth Daily; Beijing News; CRI Online)