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LIU Lei
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DOI:10.17265/2160-6579/2026.01.002
Hainan Normal University, Haikou, China
This study investigates the role of affective trust as a catalyst for cultural engagement and identity formation among the Chinese-Australian diaspora through the lens of Chinese-language cinema. It addresses a critical gap in understanding the psychosocial mechanisms by which emotionally resonant film narratives foster trust, strengthen communal bonds, and facilitate the negotiation of hybrid identities in a multicultural context. Employing a qualitative, case-study methodology focused on three representative films—The Farewell, Ash Is Purest White, and The Year of the Everlasting Storm—the analysis reveals how narrative authenticity builds affective trust, which in turn mediates audience engagement and supports both individual identity reconciliation and community cohesion. The findings highlight cinema’s unique function as a translocal forum within the Sinosphere, offering practical insights for cultural programming and policy aimed at leveraging media for deeper social integration and sustainable diasporic identity work.
affective trust, Chinese-language cinema, Chinese-Australian diaspora, cultural engagement, identity negotiation
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