The Opium War (film)

Infobox Chinese Film
name = The Opium War


caption =
director = Xie Jin
producer = Chen Zhigu
Sichuan "The Opium War" Film & Television Company
Xie Jin/Heng Tong Film & TV Co.
writer = Zhu Sujin
Ni Zhen
Zong Fuxian
Mai Tianshu
starring =
music = Jin Fuzai
Huang Hanqi
cinematography = Hou Yong
editing =
distributor = Emei Film Studio
Golden Harvest Films Ltd. (theatrical)
released = 1997
runtime =
language = Mandarin
English
amg_id = 1:155030
imdb_id = 0120538
jianti = 鸦片战争
fanti = 鴉片戰爭
pinyin = Yāpiàn zhànzhēng

"The Opium War" is a 1997 historical epic directed by veteran Chinese filmmaker Xie Jin. The winner of the 1997 Golden Rooster for Best Picture, the film was screened in several international film festivals, notably Cannes and Montreal. The film tells the story of the Opium War between the Empire of China in the waning days of the Qing Dynasty and the British Empire, through the eyes of key figures like the fiercely nationalistic Lin Zexu, and the British naval diplomat Charles Elliot.

Unlike many of its contemporaries, "The Opium War" was strongly supported by the state apparatus. [cite web|url=http://www.filmfestivals.com/mtreal97/mnew21.htm|title=Xie Jin Speaks Out|publisher=Filmfestivals.com|accessdate=2007-12-11] Despite its clear political message, western audiences found the treatment of the historical events to be generally even-handed.

At the time of its release, "The Opium War" with a budget of US$15 million dollars was the most expensive film produced in China. [cite web|url=http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/97/0627/feat2.html|author=Gee, Alison Dakota|publisher=AsiaWeek|title=Xie's Epic Victory, A historical spectacle surprises the cynics|date=1997-06-27|accessdate=2007-12-11] It was released to coincide with the Hong Kong handover ceremony in July 1997.

Cast

*Bao Guo'an as "'Lin Zexu
*Lin Liankun as Qi Shan
*Su Min as the Daoguang Emperor
*Bob Peck as Denton, a powerful trader with the British East India Company
*Simon Willimas as Charles Elliot
*Sihung Lung as He Jingrong, Denton's friend
*Shao Xin as Shanzhi
*Li Shilong as Han Zhaoqing
*Ko Hsiang-ting as Yi Shan
*Gao Yuan as Rong'er

Reception

Despite its clear political background (and its release on the eve of the return of Hong Kong to China), the film was generally well received by critics as workable example of the big-budget historical film. Variety, in one review, begins with the fact that despite the film's "unashamedly political message," "The Opium War" was nevertheless "comparatively even-handed," while the film itself had excellent production values.cite web|url=http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117432659.html?categoryid=31&cs=1|author=Elley, Derek|title= The Opium War| publisher=Variety|date=1997-06-08|accessdate=2007-12-12]

The Guardian meanwhile recognized that the film, despite its official backing, "was relatively nuanced," and praised the performance of Bob Peck as the venal opium trader Denton. [cite web|url=http://tsquare.tv/film/Guardian01.html|title=China's Epic Exorcism|author=Higgins, Andrew|publisher=The Guardian|date=1997-06-12|accessdate=2007-12-12] The film's domestic release was also positive with "The Opium War" eventually winning the Golden Rooster for Best Film.

Production

The film was shot in Hengdian World Studios, Zhejiang, a common filming site for historical films dubbed "Chinawood." In order to recreate the streets of 19th century Guangzhou, nearly 120 construction teams from surrounding villages were assembled. [cite web|url=http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/English/e2007/e200705/p58.htm|publisher=China Today|author=Zhang Wenting|title=Xu Wenrong and His “Chinawood”|accessdate=2007-12-13] In contrast, nearly all post-production took place in Japan.

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0120538|title=The Opium War
*amg title|id=1:155030|title=The Opium War
* [http://www.dianying.com/en/title/ypz1997 "The Opium War"] at the Chinese Movie Database