A special screening of the Chinese film The Lychee Road was held at Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta, on February 17, as part of the ‘Happy Chinese New Year 2026’ cultural celebrations. The screening, which had English subtitles, attracted strong interest from Maltese viewers keen to experience Chinese cinema and heritage.
The event was hosted by the China Film Administration and the China Cultural Centre in Malta, organised by the China Film Archive, and supported by Spazju Kreattiv. The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Malta, Zhang Zuo, was present for the screening.
Directed by and starring Da Peng, the historical comedy-drama is adapted from Ma Boyong’s novel Lychees of Chang’an. Set during the Tang Dynasty, it follows Li Shande, a low-ranking official tasked with delivering fresh lychees across vast distances to the imperial capital, inspired by historical tribute journeys from Lingnan. As he faces increasingly difficult challenges, he persists despite the task seeming impossible, reflecting resilience and determination.
Viewers remarked on the film’s balanced blend of humour and emotional depth, engaging them throughout and culminating in a genuinely touching conclusion. The performances were praised for their natural delivery, while the richly detailed settings, costumes and historical environments contributed to the film’s impressive visual scale and atmosphere.
Chinese cinema today represents one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing film industries, producing works that combine historical storytelling, advanced production techniques and contemporary artistic expression.
In recent years, Chinese films have gained increasing international recognition, not only for their technical quality but also for their ability to communicate universal themes such as family, duty, humour and human resilience.
The screening gave Maltese viewers the opportunity to get closer to Chinese culture and see how, despite different histories, many human experiences are shared, with film acting as a natural bridge between cultures.