Chloé Zhao Advocates for Comic Book Films as Valid Art Forms

Chloé Zhao, the acclaimed filmmaker behind "Nomadland" and "Eternals," recently championed comic book movies during a masterclass at the Venice Film Festival, arguing against their dismissal as lesser art forms. She highlighted the critical role of storytelling in providing communal frameworks for processing human experiences, suggesting that archetypes found in myths and superhero narratives serve a similar, fundamental purpose. Zhao shared her personal journey from a childhood dream of becoming a manga artist to her eventual success in cinema, underscoring how her diverse filmography, from indie dramas to blockbuster adaptations, is united by a common thread of narrative exploration.

During a Friday afternoon masterclass at the Venice Film Festival, Chloé Zhao openly discussed her early aspirations, revealing that she initially envisioned a career as a manga artist. She candidly admitted her lack of drawing proficiency, which led her to pursue alternative avenues for storytelling. This path eventually led her to filmmaking, where she found her true calling. Zhao's acclaimed career includes directing the Oscar-winning film "Nomadland" in 2020 and the Shakespearean drama "Hamnet" in 2025. Her passion for visual storytelling eventually converged with her childhood interests through her direction of Marvel's "Eternals" in 2021, a project she embraced wholeheartedly.

Zhao expressed her profound satisfaction with directing "Eternals," likening the experience to a "girl's dream come true" for anyone who appreciates anime and comic books. Despite the perceived decline in superhero film popularity and the modest box office performance of "Eternals" compared to its budget, Zhao maintains a steadfast belief in the inherent value of all forms of entertainment. This perspective stands in contrast to figures like Martin Scorsese, who has famously critiqued Marvel films as mere "theme parks." Zhao emphasized the importance of not disregarding narratives simply because they might not be categorized as "high art." She humbly articulated that the fundamental purpose of storytelling is to create platforms for individuals to process their experiences, with archetypes serving as powerful, shared conduits for this understanding.

Interestingly, Zhao drew a parallel between her intimate drama "Nomadland" and the grand-scale "Eternals," challenging the moderator's suggestion of a stark contrast between the two. She simply stated, "What contrast? It's people in nature… with animals… who have complicated relationships with them," underscoring her thematic focus on human connections within diverse settings. Her return to Venice for this masterclass marked a significant moment, as her film "Nomadland" had premiered there in 2020, eventually earning the prestigious Golden Lion and making her only the second woman to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Zhao's "Hamnet" also garnered critical acclaim, securing eight Oscar nominations and one win for Jessie Buckley.

Reflecting on her journey, Zhao revealed that she did not grow up watching many films and spent her late twenties feeling directionless as a bartender before discovering her true passion for cinema. She describes a film director's role as managing an "ecosystem," uniting various talents to bring a story to life. Despite her immense success, Zhao admitted to a recent existential crisis, questioning whether her constant pursuit of filmmaking might be causing her to miss out on fully experiencing life itself.

In essence, Chloé Zhao’s discourse at the Venice Film Festival illuminated her expansive view of cinema, asserting that the storytelling inherent in comic book films holds significant artistic and cultural value, mirroring the profound narratives found in myths. Her reflections underscore the unified purpose of all storytelling, regardless of genre or budget, in providing audiences with a means to engage with universal human themes and emotions. Zhao's personal evolution from a manga enthusiast to a celebrated director highlights her commitment to narrative expression across diverse artistic forms.