This work is an introduction to the cinema of mainland China from the early 1930s to the early 1990s. Emphasizing both film contexts and film texts, this study covers a broad cinematic analysis that includes investigations of cultural, cross-cultural, social, ethnic and political issues. The 15 films include: ""Two Stage Sisters""; ""Hibiscus Town""; ""Farewell My Concubine""; ""Street Angel""; ""Three Women""; ""Human, Woman, Demon""; ""Judou""; ""Girl from Hunan""; ""Sacrificed Youth""; ""Horse Thief""; ""Yellow Earth""; ""Old Well""; ""Red Sorghum""; ""Black Cannon Incident""; and ""Good Morning, Beijing"". Discussions of each film have an introduction, passages from the director's own notes whenever available and a scholarly article.