“Mulan goes to the army” (Mulan cong jun) - a feature film of 1939, directed by Bu Wang-tsang at the Shanghai Film Studio based on the Chinese folk ballad “ Song of Mulani ”. World-wide English title (“Maiden in Armor”).
Mulan goes to the army | |
---|---|
Mulan cong jun | |
Genre | Historical war drama |
Producer | Wancang bu |
Producer | Shankun zhang |
Author script | Yuqian Ouyang |
Operator | Xingsan yu |
Film company | Huacheng Film Company, Xinhua Film Company |
A country | China |
Tongue | Mandarin |
Year | 1939 |
IMDb | ID 0192338 |
Twentieth century. gave new features to the image of Hua Mulan or Mulan. Here Mulan appears as the Chinese Joan of Arc, though the end of the story is less tragic. The film was shot in the midst of the war of Japan and China (“War of Resistance”, as the Chinese call it, 1937–1945), when a large part of the Republic of China was occupied, and its economic resources, primarily food, were ruthlessly plundered.
Content
Story
The main events begin in the training camp, where the delicate Mulan is mocked and harassed by her rude brothers in arms. Yes, and among themselves, they constantly arrange quarrels and fights. Mulan urges them to unite in the face of the threat of barbarian conquest, instead of opposing each other. At this time, she meets Liu Feng Dou, who becomes her loyal friend. The audience knew about Mulani's feminine essence, so their attraction to each other looked ambiguous and comical. Eventually, Mulan finds himself on the front line and discovers that many commanders, instead of fighting with the barbarians, tend to cooperate with them. Mulan changes clothes in a nomad's clothing, enters an enemy camp and learns about the upcoming attack. This information was ignored by the commander, which led to tragic events: the general was killed, and the army suffered heavy losses. Mulan personally killed the adviser to the general, regrouped the troops and defeated the nomads. The Emperor offered her a high post at court as a sign of respect and gratitude, but she refused and asked for permission to return home. Having taken on her womanly appearance, she marries Liu Feng Dow.
About the film
This patriotic film was supposed to awaken the fighting spirit of the Chinese and resist Japanese propaganda, which convinced the people of the need for its military presence and warned against cooperation with both the communists and the Kuomintang. There are many direct parallels. In the images of the general, his adviser and the unstable commanders, those representatives of the Chinese elite who came to cooperate with the invaders are displayed. The discord in the ranks of the imperial army is a protracted conflict between the Chinese Communists and the nationalists. Characteristic is the scene in which the invaders surrounded Mulan and tried to select the rabbits (resources!) She caught to feed the soldiers. Gangsters also resort to unambiguous threats of a sexual nature. Mulan - a symbol of the homeland, having resorted to cunning, loses rabbits, but retains honor. In the conditions of the Sino-Japanese war, the ancient ballad served as a stimulating factor in the patriotic consolidation of society. The film collected full halls in Shanghai and was enthusiastically perceived by the audience, who easily perceived the actual subtext. His success was promoted by the fact that for the first time a Chinese woman with non-traditional social behavior appeared as the heroine to the viewer. She destroyed millennial stereotypes, according to which a woman should observe decency, be restrained, modest and quiet.
Notes
Links
- Mulan cong jun (Eng.) On the Internet Movie Database