August is shaping up to be a captivating month for cinema enthusiasts with a slate of new Chinese films, offering everything from high-stakes adventure to touching social commentary. This month, audiences can look forward to a diverse array of movies that promise to deliver unique storytelling and standout performances.
Whether you’re a fan of action-packed adventures or deeply moving narratives, August’s offerings showcase the best of contemporary Chinese filmmaking. In no particular order, here’s a closer look at four must-see movies hitting the screens this month.
1. “A Legend (传说)”
Kicking off the month with a bang is “A Legend”. The film follows an archaeologist who discovers that relics from a glacier excavation resemble a jade pendant he once saw in a dream. This realisation sparks an epic expedition into the heart of the glacier, where the team confronts both tangible dangers and mystical forces.
Cast: Jackie Chan (陳港生), Lay Zhang (张艺兴), Na Zha (娜扎), Aarif Lee (李治廷)
Release Date: 1st August 2024
2. “A Place Called Silence (默杀)”
“A Place Called Silence” will delve into the harrowing realities of bullying and societal negligence. The film tells the story of Chen Yutong, a middle school student who endures relentless bullying while her mother, Li Han, struggles helplessly to protect her. The narrative explores the devastating effects of collective silence and indifference, offering a powerful commentary on how such attitudes can exacerbate violence and despair.
Cast: Eric Wang Chuan Jun (王传君), Janice Chang (張鈞甯), Francis Ng (吳鎮宇)
Release Date: 8th August 2024
3. “The Unwavering Brotherhood (扎职3)”
The film centres around Fa Kam, a respected gang leader whose future is jeopardised when his trusted subordinates are robbed. Wah, one of the subordinates, faces a moral dilemma as he discovers the stolen money’s whereabouts, forced to choose between his boss and his closest friends.
Cast: Bosco Wong (黃宗澤), Louis Cheung (張繼聰), Carlos Chan (陳家樂), Niki Chow (周勵淇), Mark Cheng (郑浩南), Michael Tao (陶大宇)
Release Date: 29th August 2024
4. “Successor (抓娃娃)”
“Successor” tells the story of a wealthy couple, Ma Chenggang and Chunlan, who decide to design a life of poverty for their little son to teach him the values Ma Chenggang learned during his own tough upbringing. The family embarks on a hilarious journey, living in a dilapidated yard and working as donkey drivers in their contrived impoverished existence. Despite the hardships, their son Ma Jiye is their only hope. Ma Jiye excels academically and is determined, but as he grows older, he starts noticing the increasingly strange behaviour of those around him.
Cast: Shen Teng (沈騰), Ma Li (马丽), Xiao Bo Chen (肖帛辰)
Release Date: TBA
Are you excited for any of these movies?
Bonus:
5. 18×2 Beyond Youthful Days (青春18×2 通往有你的旅程)
Having lost his job and the company he built, a 36-year-old man at rock bottom goes on a wistful solo trip to Japan in search of the love he left behind.
Cast: Hsu Kuang-han, Kaya Kiyohara, Joseph Chang
Release Date: Now available on Netflix
6. YOLO (热辣滚烫)
Following years of self-neglect, a reclusive woman meets a boxing coach and embarks on a challenging journey to change her life through sport.
Cast: Jia Ling, Lei Jiayin, Zhang Xiaofei
Release Date: Now available on Netflix
Melissa Royan and Justin Tan contributed to this article.
