Cinema East series presents a collection of quality Chinese films, from old classics to contemporary best sellers. The screenings are accompanied by introduction theme lectures by Dr. Adiel Portugali (Tel-Aviv University & China Cultural Center), which explore China’s varied cinematic, historical, social and cultural landscapes. Unless otherwise noted, Cinema East 2022 takes place every last Wednesday of each month.
Li Xuelian and her husband Qin Yuhe stage a fake divorce to secure a second apartment in the city reserved by the government for single people.
Qin remarries six months later - as agreed - but to a different woman. Furious, Li files a lawsuit with the county court but loses the case. Refusing to accept the court's findings, Li appeals to the chief justice, the county chief, and even the mayor, but fails at every turn.
After Qin publicly accuses Li of being a "promiscuous woman" because she was not a virgin on their wedding night, Li is driven back to the courts to redeem her reputation. Li makes her way from county to city, enduring one trial after another, until she decides to make her appeal in far-off Beijing.
Ten years go by, and the cases of Li's divorce and her ruined reputation have not been resolved. Li has continued to travel to Beijing every year but must face those who wish to quash her efforts every step of the way.
I AM NOT MADAME BOVARY (2016) 我不是潘金莲
Date: 31 August 2022
Location: China Cultural Center
18:30 Opening Lecture by Dr. Adiel Portugali (in Hebrew)
19:00 Screening
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Director: Feng Xiaogang
Language: Chinese (Mandarin)
Subtitles: Hebrew
Duration: 128 min