The Eastern Madonna Jinggu Chen

The documentary features the legendary story of an ancient Chinese heroine. The film presents Jinggu Chen's legendary life and a rich mixture of Fujianese customs from multiple perspectives such as history, humanities, archaeological documents, and folk culture, which demonstrates the magical charm of Fujian's intangible cultural heritage.

In 2008, Jinggu Chen's belief and custom culture was listed in the second batch of China's national intangible cultural heritage list, and has become an important emotional bond connecting compatriots on both sides of the strait and overseas Chinese. Jinggu Chen's beliefs and customs have influenced Fujian, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hubei, Anhui and other Chinese-speaking cultural areas around the world.

Jinggu Chen's belief and custom culture covers various aspects of folk belief, Taoism, history, literature, art and sociology, and contains elements of thought, morality, ethics, beliefs and other aspects.

Jinggu Chen's belief and custom culture originated in the late Tang Dynasty. More than 1,200 years ago, in central Fujian, there was a girl Jinggu Chen who was gifted, courageous and kind-hearted, hated evil as much as she could, and helped the weak and the poor. At the age of 18, she was instructed by an immortal to learn the magic of immortality, subdue demons, punish evil and promote good deeds. At the age of 24, she was pregnant and gave up her life for praying for rain for the people. She was righteousness, self-sacrifice, selfless devotion, great love for the people. She provided medical treatment and labor relief, eliminate evil and bring peace in the northern regions. Therefore, she is hailed as the "protector of women and children" who "saves labor, protects fetuses, and blesses the people".

  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    45 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 12, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    25,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:2.35
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Andromeda Film Festival

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Director Biography

Born in China 1982, Zhang Hai is a new generation of Chinese filmmaker with international vision and a researcher of Chinese "I Ching: Book of Changes".

Zhang Hai graduated from Donghua University in China in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in digital media arts. During his school years, his graphic design works were selected in the first International Chinese Art Exhibition; selected in the 9th International Triennial of Stage Poster, Sofia, Bulgaria; selected in the 6th International Computer Art Biennial in Poland, the youngest Chinese artist among those selected; and included in the 2008 International Design Yearbook and the 2007 Asia Pacific Design Yearbook.

During his school years, he wrote his first scripted science fiction film "Spirit of the Earth Lula", which was compiled into a middle-grade novel.

After graduation, he was invited by Nokia International Creative Department to be the director of the documentary "Nokia - Connecting People". After graduation, he was invited by Nokia International Creative Department to direct the documentary "Nokia - Connecting People", and his experimental short film "Wanna Sleep" was selected for the 4th Annual Directors Lounge International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany.

2009 "Youth Diary" was selected for the 3rd British Oriental International Film Festival (BAFTA) British Film and Television Academy Universal Film Festival China New Filmmaker Unit, and he was in charge of film selection for the festival in Shanghai, China.

In 2012, Zhang Hai studied HD Filmmaking at the New York Film Academy.He completed his Ph.D. program in the School of Philosophy of Beijing Normal University in 2014, and wrote "A Brief History of the Transmission of I Ching: Book of Changes and Mei Hua Yi Shu" in 2020.

In 2021, the script of "Lula, the Earth Spirit" was selected as the outstanding script of the 2021 Jintongxiang Children Film Festival , and was the only work selected in the science fiction and fantasy section.

The screenplay 《Cool Dog Doo doo》 won the screenplay Award of "Ten Best Works" in the 6th China Golden Baby Elephant Children's Film Festival.

In 2021,Mr. Thom Palmen, Jury member of the Berlin International Film Festival, Executive Director of tampere Film Festival, Finland, and Oscar-nominated producer, will be invited to serve as artistic director of 《Flowering Season》.

In 2022, 《Real Lion》Film Chinese Producer/Screenwriter/Director. it will cooperate with PAVEL, the champion of Russian FREECOMBAT. An English film co-produced by Chinese, Russian and Kazakh filmmakers.

In 2022, the documentary film "The Legend of Mo Xiang" was produced, which is the world's first biographical film about a contemporary Chinese figure from The Book of Changes, to tell a story of perseverance and heritage.

2023, he made the documentary film "Madonna of the East Jinggu Chen", which tells the story of a super heroine in the late Tang Dynasty about faith and courage.Film version 86 minutes; Short version 44 minutes.

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