On November 28, 2025, the Confucius Institute at Middle East Technical University hosted movie screening of “Nezha”. The event featured four segments: character introductions, film viewing, Q&A, and a post-movie reflection sharing session. The event made students immerse themselves in more than just the film for over two hours—they also explored the rich cultural world behind the story.
Before the screening, the host Ms. Xie Mingming briefly outlined the backgrounds and relationships of key characters such as Nezha, Ao Bing, and Taiyi Zhenren (Nezha’s master). Nezha’s rebellious nature, Ao Bing’s gentle temperament, and Taiyi’ humor were all subtly illuminated through an engaging narration, setting the stage for the audience to better understand this story rooted in Chinese mythology yet infused with modern spirit. As the screen lit up, the image of Nezha, adorned with smoky makeup and seemingly unruly yet internally solitary— the “demon pill”— instantly captivated everyone. The film’s stunning visual effects, humorous scenes, and touching emotional moments intertwined, with laughter and astonishment echoing throughout the event place. Despite linguistic differences, the universal spirit conveyed by the sentence “I am the master of my own fate”— expressing resistance against bias and asserting self-determination— resonated deeply with all present.
During the Q&A session, students enthusiastically responded in Chinese. When the question regarding the film’s key motif— “jianzi” (shuttlecock kicking)—was asked, a student voluntarily stepped forward to demonstrate his skills, resulting in an interesting shuttlecock kicking contest. The colorful shuttlecocks soared through the air, eliciting enthusiastic applause from the audience.
During the sharing session on post-viewing impressions, a beginner-level student expressed in Chinese, “哪吒很可爱，这个电影非常好看！（I think Nezha is very cute, and this movie is great）”. This straightforward and sincere comment captures the most immediate reactions of many Turkish students newly exposed to contemporary Chinese animation. Toward the end of the event, the host analyzed the film through the views of Taoist yin-yang philosophy: the demon pill and the spiritual pearl that split off from the Chaos Pearl, presenting yin and yang, are not simply good and evil, but a unified whole that is interdependent and transforms into each other. This intrinsic contradiction and balance drive character development and narrative progression, ultimately fostering a strong relationship. Such an interpretation helps students recognize that animation transcends mere entertainment to serve as a meaningful expression of cultural values.
Many students have expressed enthusiastic anticipation for watching the movie “Nezha 2”. Through this event, they gained not only an appreciation for an successful Chinese animated film but also a more direct understanding of Chinese mythology and philosophical thought. This experience has further encouraged their interest in exploring Chinese cinema, culture, and philosophy. Moving forward, the Confucius Institute will continue to serve as a platform for cultural exchange, organizing diverse and enriching cultural activities. These initiatives aim to enable more students to experience the depth and vitality of Chinese culture.