Why audiences in China are loving Green Book

Old article from back when Green Book won Best Picture. I knew that Green Book was a big hit in China but this article came from a more personal perspective.

It seems like the biggest criticism of the film - that being the oversimplification of race relations in the U.S - was something that made the film connect with audiences overseas.

Still, for many in China, the film offered a peek into America’s segregation-era history, a complex topic many are little acquainted with—and perhaps whetted their appetite to know more. In fact, a majority of China’s 1.4 billion people have had little exposure to black people until recently, as China’s increasing ties (and investments) in African countries have resulted in a greater exchange of people in both directions. That profound lack of familiarity has certainly resulted in racism—as expressed, for example, in the experiences of African migrants, or some of the harsh comments on films such as the popular Marvel superhero movie Black Panther.

So I guess this acted as a 101 class in the subject of "racism is bad." It's quite interesting. Especially since movie studios will usually edit out black people from the poster of the films in China. John Boyega was famously cut out of the Star Wars posters despite being a major character. And Black Panther only used a poster with Boseman's face covered.