The Impact of Evolving China-Japan Relations on Chinese Film Creation

Abstract

This study employs a historical periodization framework to analyze the influence of China-Japan relations on Chinese film creation from 1949 to 2025. The research demonstrates that the political dynamics between the two nations have directly shaped the construction of Japanese characters in films, bilateral exchange patterns, and the selection of creative themes. During the adversarial “Seventeen Years” period, film creation was highly ideological; the subsequent period of rapprochement promoted a humanized turn and technical co-productions; since the new century, globalization and the complexification of bilateral relations have catalyzed diversified expression, deepened cooperation, and cultural reflection. Consequently, Chinese film has transformed from a tool of state propaganda into a platform for cross-cultural dialogue, reflecting the complex interplay of political, market, and cultural forces.