It’s been a while since I went out during Spring Festival season, but this time I saw two movies and had a different feeling
This article explores the new trends in the 2025 Spring Festival film season, focusing on “Detective Chinatown 1900” and “New Deity: The Magchild Incites the Sea.” The former uses the backdrop of San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1900 to depict the discrimination and oppression faced by Chinese people, reflecting the social and political environment. The latter, as an animated film, employs rich metaphorical elements to satirize the current international political landscape—for example, Jade Pure Palace resembling the Pentagon alluding to the American political system, dollar signs on the Tianyuan Cauldron symbolizing US dollar hegemony, the Immortal Jade Tablet mirroring the green card suggesting hierarchical status, and the Soul-Destroying Pill akin to biological weapons hinting at malicious actions. Both films offer a new viewing experience and prompt reflection on the relationship between cinematic art and political expression.