Themes of mutual understanding and respect in the hit sci-fi series Avatar have resonated with audiences in every corner of the globe, capturing the universal yearning to be seen amid the challenges the world currently faces, said director James Cameron.
"Avatar: Fire and Ash", the third installment in one of the most lucrative film franchises globally, opened Friday in the Chinese mainland alongside its North American release.
In an interview with China Media Group (CMG) earlier this month in south China’s Hainan Province, Cameron discussed the factors that have allowed Avatar to keep crossing borders, and why Chinese audiences respond so strongly.
"As Norm says in the first film, I see into you. I see aspects of your pain, your love, your empathy, all of those things. All of the divisions that we have in the world right now, the wars, the hatred, the protests, the immigration issues and so on. It's all because people don't see each other, they don't value each other, they reduce other people to a value of nothing. And you see it happening all over the world. The movies work thematically in every culture that they go into, including China. They've been very successful here and we have a huge fan base here in China. So I think people are responding to these ideas," said the acclaimed director.
As of noon on its first screening day, "Avatar: Fire and Ash" garnered 69.65 million yuan in ticket sales, including preview screenings.
Avatar themes reflect universal values amid real-world divisions: director
