On January 13 local time, the Berlinale Classics section of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival unveiled its lineup, which includes The Goddess, a 1934 Chinese classic restored by the China Film Archive.

Since its founding in 1951, the Berlinale has hosted a special retrospective section each year. In 2013, it launched the Berlinale Classics section, curated by the Deutsche Kinemathek (German Cinematheque), to showcase newly restored masterpieces from around the world, reviving classics and rediscovering hidden gems on the big screen.

The Goddess, director Wu Yonggang’s debut film, is celebrated as a pinnacle of Chinese silent cinema. The world premiere of its 4K restoration coincides with the 90th anniversary of the passing of its iconic lead actress, Ruan Lingyu. In tribute to her legacy, the CFA laboratory performed a meticulous 4K scan and restoration of the original 35mm nitrate negatives.

The Goddess will be featured alongside seven other restored cinematic treasures, including Howard Hughes’ Hell’s Angels, Alfred Hitchcock’s The Paradine Case, and Clint Eastwood’s breakout film Dirty Harry, among others.

The 75th Berlin International Film Festival will be running from February 13 to 23, 2025.

(Translated by Luo Desai)