A Study of the Early Film Exhibition Industry in Dalian Under Colonial Rule (1906–1931)

Abstract With the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth between Japan and Russia in 1905, Japan began its 40-year colonial rule over Dalian. Film exhibition activities in Dalian subsequently showed up distinct colonial characteristics. This paper examines the film exhibition industry in Dalian around 1920, dividing this period into two distinct phases. Through the collection, organization, and analysis of extensive historical newspapers and archival materials, it aims to return to the historical context and restore historical truth. The early development of film exhibition in Dalian serves as a microcosm of the cultural colonial history of Northeast China during the same period, reflecting the arduous trajectory experienced by Dalian and the broader Northeast region under colonial occupation.