Yapian zhanzheng (1997)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Jin Xie

Writers:

Ann Hui (writer)
Zhu Sujin (writer)

Release Date:

18 October 1997 (South Korea)

Genre:

Drama | History | War

Plot:

Historical Drama starting in 1839 in Guangzhou where British merchants dealing with opium are to be...

Plot Keywords:

Opium | British | Chinese | England | British Empire

Awards:

6 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Guoan Bao	...	Lin Zexu
Debra Beaumont	...	Queen Victoria
Oliver Cotton
Nigel Davenport
Rob Freeman	...	Hill
Xiangting Ge	...	Yi Shan
Emma Griffiths Malin	...	Mary Denton
Garrick Hagon	...	Missionary
Shao Hsin	...	Shanzhi
Jiang Hua	...	Guan Tianpei
Philip Jackson	...	Captain White
Dominic Jephcott	...	M.P.
Liankun Lin	...	Qi Shan
Weixin Li	...	Deng Tingzhen
Sihung Lung	...	He Jingrong (as Xiong Lang)
Bob Peck	...	Denton
Li Shilong	...	Han Zhaoqing
Min Su	...	Daoguang
Simon Williams	...	Captain Charles Elliot
Jamie Wilson	...	Paul Artuard captin of Artillery
Gao Yuan	...	Rong'er

Also Known As:

The Opium War (USA)

Runtime:

153 min | Finland:106 min (TV version) | Spain:113 min | Germany:105 min

Country:

Japan | China

Language:

Mandarin | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12 | South Korea:All | Spain:T

Filming Locations:

China

Company:

Emei Film Studio

A fairly accurate depiction of the origins of the Opium War

The Opium War is an historical event that heralded the beginning of the end for the Qing Dynasty and the Chinese Empire as a whole. However, despite its name, the roots of Opium War do not only lie in the drug or its addiction. Opium, corruption, mismanagement, and a gross underestimate of the West's projection power are only some of the many complex reasons that led to the First Opium War.

In Yapian Zhanzheng (Opium War), historical events are depicted in a fairly accurate manner, concentrating on the main facts and events. Different aspects of the situation are presented: the Emperor's dilemmas, British/Western interests, Commissioner Lin's character, the opium merchant, the corrupt officials, etc... The film however lacks depth and emotion. The viewer is kept on the outside, and cannot identify with any character, bar young He who is forced into the story so as to add a human dimension to the story.

From a historical perspective, the film also tends to simplify certain aspects of the situation. One would think that there only were half a dozen merchants in Canton, and that the whole war was caused by Captain Elliott. The power of merchants and their trade is briefly mentioned, but only incidentally, as are power politics at the Imperial Court and at Parliament, internal turmoil, national and international political strategy, and many other factors that led to the War.

Overall, viewing of this film is recommended to gain a overview of major events; certain scenes are also quite spectacular. But do not watch for an in-depth historical analysis or representation of the Opium War.