MANY people have never heard of director Zhang Nuanxing, who died in 1995. But they remember being deeply touched by "Sha Ou" (1981), "Sacrifice of Youth" (1985) and "Good Morning Beijing" (1991) on TV 20 years ago.

Zhang directed all three award-winning films and was one of China's few women directors in those days. She died at age 55. What might she have accomplished were she still alive?

Much earlier than big names like Jia Zhangke ("Still Life") or Wang Xiaoshuai ("Beijing Bicycle"), Zhang challenged conventions by focusing on poor and working-class people.

The style came to be called neo-realism in Chinese films. It has become a signature of sixth-generation directors like Jia and Wang who won numerous awards at major international film festivals.

Today, it is difficult to find Zhang's films because they were never released in DVD version. Fortunately, Shanghai's Dukou Bookstore on Julu Road will screen the 35mm film version on Sunday at the Xing Guang Cinema near Nanjing Road E.

Bookstore owner Gao Lu insists on showing the film at a cinema despite all the difficulties in finding the copy and venue. Screening "Good Morning Beijing" on Sunday will mark the second anniversary of her bookstore opening.

A theater setting, she says, is the best way for audiences to "really understand and appreciate the beauty of these great Chinese films since the quality of images is a significant factor of film."

Gao plans to regularly screen outstanding classic Chinese films. The project started last week, when all 300 seats in the small cinema were occupied by filmgoers nostalgic for Jia's first feature film "Pickpocket." Jia was present and insisted on free admission for everyone.

"Good Morning Beijing" is Zhang's second to last film before she died, and arguably the best.

She kept to the essence of neo-realism closely by minimizing the presence of the camera as much as possible, making the film as real as daily life.

It tells the story of three Beijing public bus drivers at a time when China opened its door to the rest of the world.

The three protagonists, like millions of other Chinese, were thrilled by new opportunities and possibilities. Suddenly, they realized that they could go into business for themselves, rather than sticking with the same company for their life. They could pursue fashion and passionate relationships instead of standard ritualized dating of one person, followed by marriage.

The film traces their experience and failures in careers and relationships with the simplest film language, realistic dialogue and a consistent structure.

Some critics argue that "Good Morning Beijing" recorded China just before the 1990s better than any documentary covering the same period.

Even to foreigners, the three protagonists might look familiar because the actors are all associated with famous films and prestigious international film awards.

Actor Wang Quan'an is now a symbol of China's sixth-generation directors. He won the Golden Berlin Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2007 with "Tuya's Marriage."

Another main character Jia Hongsheng disappeared for a long time and made his comeback in the realist film "Quitting." It won the Netpac Award at the Venice Film Festival in 2001 and is still considered one of the best contemporary Chinese films.

Born in Inner Mongolia, director Zhang landed a teaching position at the prestigious Beijing Film Academy after graduating with a major in directing. She started in the 1970s as assistant director and writer.

One of the very few female Chinese directors at the time, Zhang won the director's award at the Chinese Oscars, the Golden Rooster Awards, with her debut film "Sha Ou" (literally "seagull," also the protagonist's name). Her second film "Sacrifice of Youth" was selected for the Cannes Film Festival in 1986.



Date: January 11, 4pm

Venue: Xing Guang Cinema, 586 Ningbo Rd

Tickets: 25 yuan

Tel: 6249-6339, 5404-6676

Music

New releases from High Note Records

Artist: Adele

Title: 19 (Expanded edition)

Genre: Pop

The British vocalist's 2008 debut album sold more than 1 million copies worldwide. The expanded version includes a nine-minute enhanced section featuring behind-the-scene footage. With her mix of R&B and soul served up with a healthy dash of feisty London attitude, Adele spins beautiful dark stories of loves won and lost, and sometimes just daydreamed about.



Artist: Little Joy

Title: Little Joy

Genre: Folk

Little Joy is the new project from everyone's favorite Stroke Fab Moretti, LA musician Binki Shapiro & Rodrigo Amarante who plays on Devendra Banhart's "Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon" album. He also has own band Los Hermanos. The album features a tastefully executed cocktail of calypso-garage-folk.



Artist: Various artists

Title: Shanghai Lounge Vol. 5

Genre: Lounge Down-Tempo

Elegant jazz is interspersed with indistinct Oriental drumbeats. Fashion electronic sound vents retro lounge feelings. Folk tunes match the chill-out atmosphere. House beats take a sudden turn and develop rapidly, and the vague and alluring accordion melodies are refreshing.



High Note Records

Address: 455 Fahuazhen Rd

Tel: 5259-9922

Live Music

Live at Dream Factory

Four bands from Beijing will perform. Ourself Beside Me is a three-member all-women band. It has established a unique style, with inspirations from old bands like Velvet Underground and Soft Machine. Carsick Cars is new but has already attracted much attention with explosive guitar and resonant beats.

Date: January 17, 9pm

Address: Zhijiang Dream Factory, 28 Yuyao Rd

Tickets: 80 yuan

Northwest Gypsy

Yu Xinyuan is a real gypsy singer who spends all his days singing. Since he wrote his first song in 1996, he has been wandering - literally and musically. Wherever he is and whatever he does, he sings - in pubs, in the Metro and on the street.

Date: January 17, 7pm

Address: 721 Kunming Rd

Tel: 136-517-87064

Tickets: 30 yuan

'Give Me a Break'

The literally underground Shelter holds a night for break music with established break musicians ranging from old school to funky break beats.

Date: January 9, 9pm

Address: Shelter, 5 Yongfu Rd

Tickets: 30 yuan

Movie

German Film

The German Consulate General screens a 2007 film "Die Tranen Meiner Mutter" ("My Mother's Tears") by Alejandro Cardenas Amelio. The 93-minute film follows Alex, who goes back to Buenos Aires to visit his dying father. From there, he is reminded of the history of his family and his mother.

Date: January 16, 7pm

Address: 102A, 318 Fuzhou Rd

Tel: 6391-2068 ext 602

'No. 97 in Summer'

The documentary follows the building of No. 97, Yuanmingyuan Road and its residents as they confront the demolition of their homes. Young director Zhu Yingwen, in his early twenties, will chat with the audience.

Date: January 10, 7pm

Address: 909 Cafe, 101, Bldg 1, 909 Tianyaoqiao Rd

Drama

'The Vagina Monologues'

The film salon at Changle Road will screen Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues." The drama, a celebration of female sexuality, has been performed all over the world since 1997. Ensler interviewed more than 200 women for the script. It is still performed worldwide.

Date: January 10, 7:30pm

Address: Bldg 42, 169 Changle Rd

Tel: 6467-1258 (call to reserve)



'The Bald Prima Donna'

A group of young drama lovers has localized the classic absurdist play by French writer Eugene Ionesco. The play follows the boring conversation between two bourgeois couples and explores desperation.

Date: through January 10, Thursdays-Sundays, 7pm

Address: Ke Center for the Contemporary Arts, 613 Kaixuan Rd

Tel: 6131-3498, 6131-3499

Tickets: 49 yuan (49 tickets available)