This groundbreaking book presents a critical introduction to the cultural and political dimensions of contemporary Chinese cinema. Exploring the complex and shifting world of Chinese underground and independent film, leading Western and Chinese scholars trace the changing dynamics of Chinese film culture since the early 1990s as it moves away from underground and toward independence in the new century. With its fresh and knowledgeable analysis of Chinese underground and independent filmmaking, this book will be essential reading for all those interested in a society caught between socialism and global currents.