The period of World War Two and the role China played in
winning the war against the Japanese is often misunderstood. Since they became
our sworn enemies so soon after the end of the war we never really examine the
sacrifices the Chinese made in our common cause during this time. This film
will help put much of that into perspective for the average viewer.
Chinese director Feng Xiaogang has created a modern epic film with this sweeping tale of China
before the days of Mao; when she was still roiled by internal strife, even as
she was assailed from without by the Japanese. As if those two forces were
not enough of a challenge to a beleaguered people, there came a famine. And
with that famine came all the corruption and greed imaginable as people try to
keep their own families alive; often at the expense of their neighbors.
Complicate that scenario with an occupying enemy force which demands most of
the available food reserves and the situation becomes even more of a nightmare.
The Henan Province is where this film is set; the year is
1942. Tim Robbins plays American Priest Thomas Megan, and Adrien Brody plays a
very young Theodore White working as a journalist to uncover the truth in a
land where the truth is as great a commodity as food itself. Whose truth do you
want?
Watching this film with test your faith if you have any; and make you
long for it if you don’t. But whatever your reaction, this film will give you a
clearer understanding of how the China of Mao Tse Tung came to be. And that
knowledge will help you to understand the China of today. This is a truly
remarkable film.
No comments:
Post a Comment