The magic spell of motion pictures still works. After a months-long departure from cinema due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese filmgoers are eager to celebrate the charm of the big screen again. On Monday, cinemas in low-risk areas started to reopen under COVID-19 prevention protocols. 

Here are 10 titles on top of the screening schedule.

A First Farewell

A poster for the film, A First Farewell [Photo/Mtime]

Douban rating: 7.3

IMDb rating: 7.0

Set in the scenic Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the story unfolds between a farm boy Isa and his friend Kalbinur. Isa's mother, deaf and mute from meningitis, depends on her son to look after her. Kalbinur, though a smart Uyghur girl at school, finds the Chinese language hard to master at the village school. That winter, Isa's father decides to send Isa's mother to a nursing home, and Kalbinur's family makes plans to leave the village. Isa reads a story called A First Farewell in school, and although he does not fully understand the idea of farewell, he will soon experience it himself.

The film won the Asian Future Best Film Award at Tokyo International Film Festival in 2018 and a Crystal Bear at the 2019 Berlinale.

Sheep Without a Shepherd

A poster for the film, Sheep Without a Shepherd [Photo/Mtime]

Douban rating: 7.7

IMDb rating: 6.7

Li Weijie and his wife, A Yu, have lived in Thailand for 17 years and raised two daughters. At the age of 40, Li runs an internet company and is well liked by the townspeople. However, the family's prospects are suddenly interrupted by an unexpected guest. In this borderland town filled with smuggling and drug trafficking, justice comes into a critical testing moment.

Wolf Worrior II 

A poster for the film, Wolf Warrior II [Photo/Mtime]

Douban rating: 7.1

IMDb rating: 6.0

China's deadliest special forces operative settles into a quiet life on the sea. When sadistic mercenaries begin targeting nearby civilians, he must leave his newfound peace behind and return to his duties as a soldier and protector.

Coco

A poster for the film, Coco [Photo/Mtime]

Douban rating: 9.1

IMDb rating: 8.4

This Disney-Pixar production offers a heart-warming comedy integrating fantasy, music, family values and enchanting Mexican culture. Miguel, a little boy from a family of shoemakers, dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.

First screened in 2018, Coco brought home two Oscars, including Best Animated Feature Film, one Golden Globe and one BAFTA Award.

The Pursuit of Happyness

A poster for the film, The Pursuit of Happyness [Photo/Mtime]

Douban rating: 9.1

IMDb rating: 8.0

This film is based on a true story about a man named Christopher Gardner. Gardner has invested heavily in a device known as a "bone density scanner". However, the devices do not sell well as they are marginally better than x-ray at a much higher price. As Gardner works to make ends meet, his wife leaves him and he loses his apartment. Forced to live out on the streets with his son, Gardner takes on an unpaid internship as a stockbroker, with slim chances for advancement to a paid position. Before he can receive pay, he needs to outshine the competition through six months of training, and to sell his devices to stay afloat.

Ne Zha

A poster for the film, Ne Zha [Photo/Mtime]

Douban rating: 8.5

IMDb rating: 7.5

The Primus extracts a Mixed Yuan Bead into a spirit bead and a demon bead. The spirit bead can be reincarnated in a human to help King Zhou establish a new dynasty, the demon bead will create a devil and harm humans. Ne Zha is the one who should be the spirit bead hero but he becomes a devil incarnate, because the spirit bead and the demon bead are switched.

Ne Zha is the top-grossing animated film ever made by China and No. 2 on the box office chart for all films ever screened on the Chinese mainland. The box office hit has grossed more than 700 million dollars worldwide.

Bright Torch 3D

A poster for the film, Bright Torch 3D [Photo/Mtime]

This is the first 4K-3D live-action documentary to celebrate Chinese artisans. The film records the skills and personalities of Chinese craftsmen, the unique relationship between Chinese masters and their apprentices.

Goodbye Mr. Loser

A poster for the film, Goodbye Mr. Loser [Photo/Mtime]

Douban rating: 7.7

IMDb rating: 6.7

The story of a middle-aged loser who finds himself magically transported back to his high school years, enabling him to fix all his life's mistakes. Starring Chinese comedians Shen Teng and Ma Li, the film was a box office hit during the National Day Holiday in 2015.

Dolittle

A poster for the film, Dolittle [Photo/Mtime]

Douban rating: 5.6

IMDb rating: 5.6

Screening date: July 24

After his wife's death, Doctor John Dolittle ("Iron Man" Robert Downey Jr.) decided to hide from the world with his beloved animals. But he has to take a journey to a mysterious island to find a healing tree, which is the only medicine that can help the dying Queen Victoria in Buckingham Palace.

The Message

A poster for the film, The Message [Photo/Mtime]

Douban rating: 8.2

IMDb rating: 7.4

The story is set in 1942 in the city of Nanjing. Following a series of assassination attempts on officials of the Japanese-controlled puppet government, the Japanese spy chief gathers a group of suspects in a mansion house for questioning. A tense game of "cat and mouse" ensues as the Chinese code-breaker attempts to send out a crucial message while protecting his/her own identity.