Just about every major Chinese film I've seen in the last year seems to be an allegory for contemporary Chinese politics. O.K., I'll spell it out:
*** SPOILERS FOLLOW ***
The Emperor=Chinese government The Empress=Chinese people Her medicine=economic reform since 1979 The secret ingredient that slowly makes her a half-wit=state culture The festival=Beijing Olympics in 2008 The Pharmacist=corrupt intelligentsia Pharmacist's daughter=more corrupt intellectuals incestuously in bed with the corrupt government=weak son Pharmacist's wife=imprisoned intellectual of conscience Youngest heir=selfish inept Chinese youth, neglected and weak Rebellious talented heir=the director His choice at the end=die or feed the people idiocy The rebellion massacre=well, it happened in Beijing The quick clearing away of the bodies=Chinese censorship of incident Yellow/Gold=wealth Ninjas=secret police Hidden army=hidden army
I'm amazed that the movie passed the censors. Are they really that dumb? Then I thought, maybe not. Maybe they want to get the message out: any attempt to upset the regime will end in bloody failure. Maybe the Empress is brave, or maybe just insane. The movie is chilling.
*** SPOILERS FOLLOW ***
The Emperor=Chinese government The Empress=Chinese people Her medicine=economic reform since 1979 The secret ingredient that slowly makes her a half-wit=state culture The festival=Beijing Olympics in 2008 The Pharmacist=corrupt intelligentsia Pharmacist's daughter=more corrupt intellectuals incestuously in bed with the corrupt government=weak son Pharmacist's wife=imprisoned intellectual of conscience Youngest heir=selfish inept Chinese youth, neglected and weak Rebellious talented heir=the director His choice at the end=die or feed the people idiocy The rebellion massacre=well, it happened in Beijing The quick clearing away of the bodies=Chinese censorship of incident Yellow/Gold=wealth Ninjas=secret police Hidden army=hidden army
I'm amazed that the movie passed the censors. Are they really that dumb? Then I thought, maybe not. Maybe they want to get the message out: any attempt to upset the regime will end in bloody failure. Maybe the Empress is brave, or maybe just insane. The movie is chilling.