(Photo: CGTN)

The 21st Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), one of Asia's largest film industry events, kicked off on June 16, once again drawing the world's attention to Shanghai, also known as the "Pearl of the Orient."

Film seems to have a very close connection to the city.

China's century-old film industry reflects the history of Shanghai, and at times, even influences people's understanding of the city.

Films, whether they be romance, drama or comedy, enrich the legend of Shanghai. And Shanghai, in turn, provides the film industry with its infinite charm and sensibility.

In 1907, Italian filmmaker A.E. Loulos made a short film about Shanghai's first tram, marking the city's first appearance on the silver screen. 

City of glamour and grit: Shanghai in the 1930s

Love was one of the major themes in the 1930s Shanghai film industry. The kiss scene in the 1937 film “Crossroads” was an eye-opener for audiences in the city.

The bright lights of Shanghai dimmed as the gap between the urban dream and harsh reality widened.  

“Street Angel,” released in 1937, tells the story of Shanghai's downtrodden. Through the camera, which shows the grittier side of the city, even if Shanghai is a heaven, it is a heaven built on the edge of hell.

City of rebirth: Shanghai in the 1980s

The film “Narrow Road” tells the tumultuous story of a blind man and a girl who hides her gender. In this film, we see two sides of Shanghai – the sweet and the bitter.

City of nostalgia: Shanghai in the 1990s

The 1993 film "Old Dreams" depicts old Shanghai as an elusive love interest, and returns the dream of Shanghai to the screen. 

Today, the story of Shanghai is still being written. Whether it's an old street or a towering skyscraper, Shanghai still provides an inexhaustible source of material for the film industry.