Chinese Film Studies

This page highlights key resources and search strategies for finding material for cinema from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan. The techniques and strategies for finding books and DVDs/films are often the same or similar to finding journal articles in the Library databases.

Searching the Library Catalogue

You can also limit your search by item type (books or Videos/DVDs). A keyword search for “ang lee” and books for example, will find chapters in books, books written about Ang Lee, or critiques of Ang Lee’s work. A search for "ang lee" and Videos/DVDs will find films.

If you are looking for videos in a particular language, you may get a better result by performing an Advanced Search. Choose Chinese under the Language option.

Subject Search

It is also useful to know the relevant subject headings or descriptors for film studies. These subject headings come from a controlled vocabulary and are a list of words or phrases assigned to items (books, etc) to describe what the item is about. The key Subject Heading for film related material is “motion picture”.

To find films using the Subject begins with option, note there is a difference between films from a country, and films shown in that country. One uses a double hyphen between words, the other uses a comma. You may want to search using both options. For example:
For works on motion pictures shown in China or produced by Chinese film companies use: Motion pictures--[name of country or region] e.g.

• Motion pictures--China
• Motion pictures--Taiwan
• Motion picture producers and directors--China

For works on motion pictures produced by Chinese film companies and shown outside China use: Motion pictures, [adjective for country or region] e.g.

• Motion pictures, Chinese

For motion pictures from China at least 40 minutes long you may also use: Feature films--[name of country or region] e.g.

• Feature films--China
• Feature films--China--Hong Kong

DVDs/Videos at Waikato

The University of Waikato DVD Collection is located on Level 3 of the Central Library. The Education Library also has a collection of DVDs and videorecordings. These videos are listed in the Library Catalogue, but they may be documentaries or provide instructional support, rather than videos of feature films.

Video and DVD players are available on Level 3 of the Central Library and most items may be borrowed for use outside the Library.  See Lending policy for borrowing conditions and  Finding Videos for general information on finding videos and DVDs in the Library collection.
*Note that DVD Feature films are shelved according to the first three letters of the title.

You may also browse the list of DVDs, books and journals in Chinese held in the Library.