To celebrate the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on Oct 27th, the China Film Archive (CFA) held special screenings of “The Great Wall”, a rare film, in both Beijing and Suzhou.

The 1957 film, directed by Tu Guangqi and starring Li Lihua, is based on the Han dynasty legend “Meng Jiangnu’s Bitter Weeping at the Great Wall”. It tells the story of Meng, who, undeterred by authority and hardship, embarked on a long journey in search of her husband conscripted to construct the Great Wall.

The film’s 16mm print held at the CFA is the only one currently available in mainland China. It was acquired from Europe earlier this year, together with stills, posters and other film-related documents, marking a remarkable achievement in the overseas acquisition efforts of the CFA over recent years.

Distribution of the film’s postcards

Lin Siwei, Deputy Director of the CFA, addressed the audience before the screening in Beijing. He Yuxin and Dr. Zhu Jun introduced the CFA’s acquisition accomplishments and the film respectively. Meanwhile, in the Jiangnan Center of our archive, a post-screening lecture was given by Dr. Wang Peilei, a film historian.

Lin Siwei, Deputy Director of the CFA

Since 2009, the CFA has celebrated the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage with annual events that showcase archival treasures and iconic Chinese cinematic classics. Looking forward, we remain committed to enhancing the preservation of our collections, expanding public access, and strengthening the protection of film heritage. Through these efforts, we aim to deepen the appreciation of cinematic history and promote new cultural products imbued with Chinese values and cultural essence.

(Translated by Luo Desai)