10 Movies & Shows Like The Wasted Times

Description: A sweeping biographical drama about China's final emperor, featuring sumptuous production design and a focus on the tension between personal destiny and historical forces. The film's grand scale and intimate character study create a powerful duality.

Fact: It was the first Western film granted permission to shoot in Beijing's Forbidden City. The film won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Description: An epic historical drama spanning decades of Chinese history, focusing on the lives of Peking opera performers. The film's examination of personal sacrifice and the intersection of art and politics is profoundly moving.

Fact: It was the first Chinese film to win the Palme d'Or at Cannes. The lead actors spent six months training in Peking opera for their roles.

Description: A melancholic and visually arresting tale of unrequited love set in 1960s Hong Kong. The film's slow pacing, rich cinematography, and focus on repressed emotions create a deeply immersive experience.

Fact: The iconic cheongsam dresses worn by Maggie Cheung were designed by William Chang, who also served as the film's production and costume designer. The film was shot without a completed script.

Description: A sci-fi infused romantic drama that explores themes of memory, love, and loss. The film's nonlinear narrative and lush visual style create a dreamlike atmosphere that lingers long after viewing.

Fact: The film's title refers to both a hotel room number and the year when Hong Kong's '50 years unchanged' promise expires. It took over five years to complete due to its complex production.

Description: A visually stunning martial arts film that blends historical drama with poetic storytelling, focusing on the life of a legendary martial artist. The film's meticulous attention to period detail and its exploration of personal and national identity resonate deeply.

Fact: The fight scenes were choreographed by Sammo Hung, a legendary figure in Hong Kong cinema. The film was cut by 22 minutes for its international release.

Description: A gritty anthology film that weaves together four stories of violence in contemporary China. The raw portrayal of social inequality and the consequences of rapid modernization creates a powerful commentary.

Fact: The film was inspired by real-life incidents reported in Chinese news media. It was initially banned in China for its controversial content.

Description: A neo-noir crime thriller set in China's industrial north, featuring a morally ambiguous detective and a mysterious femme fatale. The film's wintry atmosphere and themes of corruption create a chilling effect.

Fact: The film won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Many scenes were shot in real locations during freezing winter conditions.

Description: A martial arts film that subverts genre expectations with its meditative pace and painterly compositions. The story of a female assassin torn between duty and desire is told with breathtaking visual poetry.

Fact: The film's fight scenes were designed to appear realistic rather than stylized. It won Best Director at Cannes for Hou Hsiao-hsien's masterful work.

Description: A generational drama told in three distinct time periods, exploring how China's economic boom affects personal relationships. The film's structural innovation and emotional depth make it particularly compelling.

Fact: Each time period in the film uses a different aspect ratio. The director cast his own son to play a younger version of one of the main characters.

Description: A sprawling crime romance that follows a woman's journey through China's changing underworld over nearly two decades. The film's mix of intimate drama and societal observation creates a rich tapestry.

Fact: The lead actress Zhao Tao performed all her own motorcycle stunts. The film's timeline mirrors China's rapid economic development in the 2000s.