Published : 2025-02-23
On February 23, 1988, the Chinese film Red Sorghum (《紅高粱》), directed by Zhang Yimou (張藝謀), defeated movies from 21 countries to win the Golden Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Starring Gong Li (鞏俐) and Jiang Wen (姜文), Red Sorghum was produced by Xi'an Film Studio. It is the first time that a Chinese film, and an Asian film, has won an award at the Berlin International Film Festival.
The Berlin International Film Festival is one of the three major contemporary film festivals in the world and has always been a battleground for strong films from around the world. That year’s festival was held in West Berlin from February 12 to 23.
Since its premiere on February 15, Red Sorghum has been highly popular with audiences, becoming the most-watched and most talked-about film at the festival.
The film perfectly blends a strong national style, free-spirited vitality, and high patriotic enthusiasm, making Western viewers see Chinese cinema in a new light.
Red Sorghum's success made its director Zhang Yimou the talk of the festival. Foreign critics have even said, "Even Bertolucci, who made The Last Emperor, would seek advice from Zhang Yimou."
