Exploring the Role of Chinese-Language Cinema in Shaping Cultural Identity Among Overseas Chinese Communities

This article investigates the role of Chinese-language cinema in shaping the cultural identity of overseas Chinese communities. Confronting the challenge of cultural preservation amidst assimilation pressures, these communities increasingly engage with diasporic cinema. The analysis, drawing on literature review and comparative case studies of The Wedding Banquet (1993), The Farewell (2019), and Crazy Rich Asians (2018), argues that such cinema functions as a vital cultural archive, a platform for identity formation, and a contact zone for transnational dialogue. Findings reveal that films actively negotiate heritage and belonging, yet their impact is moderated by generational and regional differences, while commercial transnational productions may risk homogenising diverse diasporic experiences. The study concludes that Chinese-language cinema is instrumental in sustaining dynamic, multifaceted identities, challenging static notions of “Chineseness”. It calls for more inclusive narratives and further research employing longitudinal and comparative designs to better understand the affective and cognitive dimensions of audience reception within global networks.