Mondays through April 16Introduced by Chris BerryClassics of the Chinese Cinemas provides an opportunity to see some of the greatest films from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the diaspora on the big screen. The People's Republic's "Open Door" policy of the last two decades has made the reconnection of the Chinese cinemas possible. Placed together, classics like Yellow Earth, Enter the Dragon, and City of Sadness appear as complementary achievements of one rich and varied cinematic culture. And within this new transnational perspective, the Chinese cinematic realm takes its place alongside Arabic cinema, Indian cinema, and Hollywood as one of the world's cinematic giants.Although the range of Chinese films available on video has greatly increased, the range of titles available as prints in the U.S. has sadly declined. Over the next few months, this series gives us the chance to see these classics in 35mm prints. The season ranges from the earliest available films of the Republic period, such as Street Angel (1937), to postrevolutionary classics of the socialist honeymoon period like Two Stage Sisters, as well as Hong Kong action classics and Taiwanese art films.-Chris Berry Each program will be introduced by Chinese film scholar Chris Berry, Associate Professor in the UC Berkeley Film Studies Program. Films will start at 6:20. Monday January 22, 2001