Mulan | |
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Official poster |
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Traditional | 花木蘭 |
Simplified | 花木兰 |
Mandarin | Huā Mùlán |
Directed by | Jingle Ma |
Produced by | Jingle Ma Wang Tian-yun Jeffrey Chan Ni Ying Li Li |
Screenplay by | Zhang Ting |
Starring | Zhao Wei Yu Rongguang Chen Kun Hu Jun Jaycee Chan Nicky Lee Vitas |
Music by | Li Sisong Lee Wei Song Yi Jiayang Cheung Ah-tung Tan Dun Xiao Ke |
Cinematography | Tony Cheung |
Editing by | Kwong Chi-leung |
Studio | Starlight International Media, Beijing Galloping Horse Film & TV Production, 湖南電廣傳媒股份有限公司, Shanghai Film Group, PKU Starlight Group, Beijing Polybona Film Publishing Co., Ltd. |
Release date(s) | November 26, 2009(Malaysia) November 27, 2009 (China) |
Running time | 113 minutes |
Country | China |
Language | Mandarin |
Mulan, known in Chinese as Hua Mulan, is a 2009 Chinese film starring Zhao Wei as the titular protagonist. The director, Jingle Ma, has explained that this film is vastly different from the 1998 Walt Disney animated film and adheres more to his imagination.[1] Zhao Wei was cast by Ma as Hua Mulan over actresses Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh, and Liu Yifei, who were reportedly also considered for the role.[1]
The Russian singer Vitas also has a role in this film and helped publicize the film by providing a song titled Beneath the Glory for the film score.[2]
Contents |
Mulan follows the Chinese folktale of Hua Mulan, about a young woman who dresses as a man to fight in the war in place of her father. At the start of the film, Mulan lives with her aging father Hua Hu, a former soldier for the Northern Wei Dynasty. One day, envoys from the emperor arrive, announcing that an army is being mustered to fight off an invasion by the nomadic Rouran. As her father prepares to again go to war, Mulan, in the middle of the night, takes his armor and his sword and takes his place.
In camp, she meets and befriends several other soldiers, including Xiaohu, a fellow villager who recognizes Mulan but promises to keep her gender a secret. She also meets Wentai, an officer who takes a liking to the young soldier. Mulan's identity is at jeopardy, however, when Mulan admits to stealing a jade pendant owned by another soldier to avoid participating in a strip search. Scheduled for execution, she is only saved when Wentai loosens her binds during a surprise attack by Rouran. Rather than escaping, Mulan proves her bravery when she turns the tide of battle by killing the enemy general. Mulan's exploits are rewarded and she and Wentai are promoted through the ranks of the army, eventually reaching the status of general. Despite their victories, Wentai realizes that Mulan is still too emotionally attached to both himself and to her men, and fakes his death after suffering an ambush by the Rouran. Hiding in the medical tent, Wentai watches as Mulan first falls into deep despair before eventually overcoming her grief to become one of the emperor's finest generals.
After twelve years of fighting, the Rouran is near a breaking point. The foster son of the Rouran Dayan, Mendu nevertheless still thirsts for power and kills his less ambitious father to take the Rouran crown. Gathering an army of 200,000, he invades the Wei heartland once more. In response, Mulan develops a plan that will trap and eventually destroy the invasion, despite the Rouran superiority in men and supplies. She is given command of 20,000 soldiers and wins an early victory before retreat to a canyon. Awaiting support from the commander in chief of the Wei forces, she eventually finds herself betrayed by her superior when no supplies and no support is forthcoming. With an army slowly dying from thirst and wounds, Mulan prepares for a martyr's death when Wentai reveals himself to the Rouran as a prince of Wei, and offers himself in exchange for the safety of Mulan and her soldiers.
As Mulan's soldiers retreat, she disguises herself as a Rouran soldier and sneaks into their camp. Mulan confronts Rouran princess who dreams of peace between the Wei and the Rouran tribes. She convinces the Rouran princess to aid her, and the two and Gude assassinate Mendu and rescue Wentai. Mulan returns to the Wei capital where she at last reveals herself as a woman and not a man. The Wei emperor nevertheless rewards her and announces that his son, Wentai, will marry the Rouran princess to bring peace to the lands. Mulan asks only to return to her native village. Later, Wentai pays a visit to Mulan's village and asks her to elope with him. Mulan, however, convinces Wentai the necessity of sacrificing for their country. Understanding this, Wentai sadly leaves the village.
After its release in Asia, Mulan gained average box office ratings and reviews. However, critics gave Zhao Wei's performance favorable reviews. Chinese media especially said that this was the best performance of Zhao's career. On the film's opening day Beijing Screen, the Chinese government honors Mulan:[3] In 2011, Mulan honored the 9th Henan province governmental award - movie category of Achieving Five Top Project Prize[4]
Awards | |||
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Award | Category | Name | Outcome |
10th Changchun Film Festival | Best Actress | Zhao Wei | Won |
21st Golden Melody Awards | Best Producer for a Single Melody | Li Shih Song, Yee Kar Yeung | Nominated |
29th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | Zhao Wei | Nominated |
Best Original Film Song | Li Shih Song, Yee Kar Yeung and Stefanie Sun | ||
30th Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Picture | Won-Runner Up | |
Best Actress | Zhao Wei | Won | |
Best Supporting Actor | Jaycee Chan | Nominated | |
19th Shanghai Film Critics Awards | Best Actress | Zhao Wei | Won |
Vietnam DAN Movie Awards | Favorite Chinese Movie | Won | |
Favorite Chinese Actress | Zhao Wei |
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