(China Plus) At the recent premiere of a new film in Beijing, writer-producer James Cameron briefed his audience on "Female energy can save the whole world". It's this belief that underlies the plot to "Alita: Battle Angel".
The film tells the story of a cyborg rescued from the scrapyard who is brought back to life and starts a journey to understand her past.
It's not often that a science fiction action story such as this has a female protagonist. But this has clearly resonated with audiences in China. The film, which opened in China on February 22, raked in 130 million yuan (19.7 million U.S. dollars) on its first day, slightly more than double the 8.72 million U.S. dollars in first-day box office takings in the United States.
The strong performance by the lead actress Rosa Salazar has contributed to the success of the film. At the premiere here in China, the actress described her character by saying "She completed me."
Audiences in China have shown an interest in stories centered on a strong female lead. China's television drama series "Princess Agents", which aired in 2017, centered on the female warrior Chu Qiao, who rises from the lowly role of a slave to become a successful military strategist. The show wasn't just a hit in China: overseas fans often complained about the wait for new episodes.
In both this American sci-fi film and the hit Chinese costume drama, women aren't stereotyped as victims in need of rescue. Rather, they show women coming to the rescue of men who are in danger. In "Alita: Battle Angel", Alita rescues her human boyfriend Hugo from an opponent. And in the television drama, the wise and brave Chu Qiao saves her male friend Yan Xun on several occasions. Their bravery, combined with their depth of emotion, has hit the right note with audiences.
The film comes at a time when the social status of women in many countries has been noticeably improving. It seems that audiences, especially women, are drawn to films and television series that reflect this changing view of women. And this can increasingly been seen at the box office, with the success of films like "Alita: Battle Angel".
Source: China Plus