"The Flowers of War"
"The Flowers of War" is an interesting and engaging Chinese film. It's interesting here because the Chinese censors passed on this film after a six month process of review and engaging simply because the film, while fictional, was based on some explicit factual accounts of events similar to what was depicted.
The film was the highest grossing film in China in 2011. It was directed by Zhang Yimou of "Raise the Red Lantern" fame and one of China's most prominent directors. This historical war drama is set in 1937, and it stars Christian Bale as an American rough guy who makes his living as a mortician. As the "Rape on Nanjing" by the Japanese is in progress he helps rescue a group of young girls who are trying to return to their convent, and then protects a group of prostitutes who are seeking refuge at the convent's cathedral. All other actors are Asian, presumably Chinese.
While the director Zhang states that he intended to give a multi-faceted face to the Japanese to show that all were not alike, that is far from clear to the casual film watcher. As the events unfold the Japanese as shown in the film are merciless, killing and raping with abandon, even with joy. The few Chinese fighters and resisters are heroic and self-sacrificing, literally. In 2011 what does this mean as the popularity of this film shows that the atrocities of WWII and the enmity between Japan and China are hardly beneath the surface. Japan has yet to acknowledge the atrocities in Nanjing. As China militarizes in a major way, what does this mean for the relationship looking out ten years?
The other completely weird aspect of this film is that while making sure to villify the Japanese in the most graphic manner, it romanticizes the life of Chinese prostitutes. The good hearted group in this film ultimately makes a difficult decision to protect the young convent girls. While not government sponsored today, the well-to-do in China can be as active sexually and at time degenerate as they choose to be and it is not a secret. The film suggests that there are fine people whose destiny was changed by events beyond their control, and they retain their integrity.
Those censors have disciplined agendas. This is a pretty good historical film that is worth a look, but the messages about China today stood out.
The film was the highest grossing film in China in 2011. It was directed by Zhang Yimou of "Raise the Red Lantern" fame and one of China's most prominent directors. This historical war drama is set in 1937, and it stars Christian Bale as an American rough guy who makes his living as a mortician. As the "Rape on Nanjing" by the Japanese is in progress he helps rescue a group of young girls who are trying to return to their convent, and then protects a group of prostitutes who are seeking refuge at the convent's cathedral. All other actors are Asian, presumably Chinese.
While the director Zhang states that he intended to give a multi-faceted face to the Japanese to show that all were not alike, that is far from clear to the casual film watcher. As the events unfold the Japanese as shown in the film are merciless, killing and raping with abandon, even with joy. The few Chinese fighters and resisters are heroic and self-sacrificing, literally. In 2011 what does this mean as the popularity of this film shows that the atrocities of WWII and the enmity between Japan and China are hardly beneath the surface. Japan has yet to acknowledge the atrocities in Nanjing. As China militarizes in a major way, what does this mean for the relationship looking out ten years?
The other completely weird aspect of this film is that while making sure to villify the Japanese in the most graphic manner, it romanticizes the life of Chinese prostitutes. The good hearted group in this film ultimately makes a difficult decision to protect the young convent girls. While not government sponsored today, the well-to-do in China can be as active sexually and at time degenerate as they choose to be and it is not a secret. The film suggests that there are fine people whose destiny was changed by events beyond their control, and they retain their integrity.
Those censors have disciplined agendas. This is a pretty good historical film that is worth a look, but the messages about China today stood out.
posted by John Borden at 4:24 PM
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