Disability Representation in Contemporary Chinese Cinema: A Qualitative Narrative Study of Six Impactful Realist Films Made between 2015 and 2024

This study examines the representation of disability in six influential domestic social realist films released in China between 2015 and 2024. These films, all within the social realist genre, achieved notable box office success, high audience ratings, and/or nominations for prestigious national awards. Through narrative analysis of the films’ stories and plots, complemented by a discourse-focused examination, the study identifies three models of disability narratives: the individual model, the social model, and a hybrid model that integrates multiple perspectives on disability. Each film constructs its narrative around one of these models, shaping the portrayal of disability. The films also differ in their use of cinematic language and camera techniques, yet all effectively enhance the impact of their respective disability narratives. The findings suggest that contemporary domestic cinema encourages audiences to perceive disability as a complex, evolving, and multifaceted phenomenon, rather than merely as individual limitations—a perspective that continues to dominate state discourse on disability in China. Moreover, the selected films depict individuals with diverse impairments, including hearing, intellectual, physical, and mental disabilities, exploring their unique disabling experiences across various social contexts, such as care institutions, employment, and family life. Consequently, the study concludes that film functions as a positive sociocultural force in promoting equality and inclusion in China. Contemporary Chinese cinema contributes to a deeper public understanding of both the nature of disability and the complex barriers that individuals with different types of disabilities encounter in the process of social participation in China.