Timely festivity: Chinese new year films (hesui pian) in the 1950s–1960s

Abstract

Chinese New Year films (hesui pian) have always been guaranteed blockbusters in the Hong Kong film industry. Their festive filmic elements and timely release during the most important festival of the year in Chinese societies have provided film-makers with their best chance to boost box office revenue by offering people holiday entertainment. This article attempts to rediscover the popular ‘festive films’ that appeared in the early local film scene in the 1950s and 1960s, long before they were recognized as important blockbusters in the 1980s and 1990s. In addition, this article will look specifically at three early Chinese New Year films and focus on the social and cultural role festive films play in shaping the perception of the city as home. With the support of archival materials, this article aims to open up a new perspective in the study of audience reception and local generic development through an examination of temporality.