8. Cultural Icon Dies

Film director Xie Jin passed away on October 18, aged 85. Heralded as the iconic representative of the third generation of China's film directors, Xie enjoyed the highest status in the heart of Chinese audiences. Well-known for his realistic creative style, Xie had finished more than 30 films in over 50 years, most of which mirror the development of Chinese society and focus on the reality of life.

Influencing generations of Chinese, his films are considered classics and cover the most important periods of China, dating back to 1949. Chinese filmmakers believe that Xie's unique film narrative style, known locally as the Xie Mode, has been a cornerstone of Chinese films and is irreplaceable.