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100 years since the revolution and Jackie Chan’s 100thfilm, this is a very special film indeed. Chosen to help commemorate, celebrateand increase global knowledge of the Chinese revolution of 1911; this filmopens in China this weekend and rolls out around the rest of the world shortlyafter. (Dates at the end.)
Synopsis...
“At the beginning of the 20th century, China is in a state ofcrisis. The country is split into warring factions, the citizens are starving,and recent political reforms have made matters worse, not better. The rulingQing Dynasty, led by a seven-year-old emperor and his ruthless mother, EmpressDowager Longyu (Joan Chen), is completely out of touch after 250 years ofunquestioned power. With ordinary citizens beginning to revolt openly, the QingDynasty has created a powerful, modern army (the "New Army") to quashany rebellion. But weapons are expensive and desperate for cash; the Qingleaders are trading anything they can get their hands on with foreigncountries... and selling China”
It’s obviously a very important film to those who have madeit, to the Chinese government and, if it manages to e a success worldwide itwill bring a lot of pride to the Chinese film industry. (Especially with somany big American films stealing the headlines and big box office in China thisyear.)
Here’s some more detail on the 3 main characters and theactors who portray them in this film...
HUANG XING - playedby Jackie Chan
Huang Hsing; (October 25, 1874 –October 31, 1916), Chinese revolutionary leader, militarist and statesman, wasthe first army commander-in-chief of the Republic of China. As one of thefounders of the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Republic of China, his position wasnext to Sun Yat-sen. Together they were known as Sun-Huang during the XinhaiRevolution. He was also known as the "Eight Fingered General" becauseof wounds sustained during the war. His tomb is on Mount Yuelu, in Changsha,Hunan, China.
XUZONG HAN – Played by Li Binbing
Xuzong Han (1877-1944), formerlyknown as Peixuan, was Huang Hsing's wife. Xu, affected by democratic ideas,promoted women's rights and was an advocate for women's schooling. In 1907 Xuwent to Southeast Asia, joined the League in Penang, then went back to theLeague of Guangzhou and set up secret Jianfu other agencies, launched inFebruary 1910 in the Guangzhou New Army uprising. Xu fled after the failure ofHong Kong and returned to Guangzhou to participate in the uprising in 1911; Shewas responsible for manufacturing and shipment of arms. When Huang Xing waswounded during the intifada, Xu took good care of him and escorted him to HongKong for medical treatment; they got married afterward.
A graduate of the Shanghai TheatreAcademy, Li Bingbing rose to prominence in 1999 in director Zhang Yuan'sSeventeen Years. From then on, Lee worked with Hong Kong and Chinese directors,among them Feng Xiaogang (A World without Thieves), Johnny To (Linger) and TsuiHark (Detective Dee); she also worked side by side with the best Asian stars, amongthem Andy Lau and Jackie Chan. Lee has been nominated and won many film awardsin China and around Asia. As an advocate for the environment, Lee is dedicatedto her work with many charitable organizations.
SUN YAT-SEN – played by Winston Chao
Sun Yat-sen (November 12, 1866 –March12, 1925) was a Chinese revolutionary and political leader. As the foremostpioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the FoundingFather of Republican China, a view agreed upon by both Mainland China andTaiwan. Sun played an instrumental role in inspiring the overthrow of the QingDynasty, the last imperial dynasty of China, which began in October 1911.
Taiwan-born Winston Chao catapultedto international stardom in 1992 after playing the leading role in Ang Lee'sThe Wedding Banquet. His collaboration with Lee continued the next year withEat Drink Man Woman, which became another box office hit. Chao has portrayedthe role of Sun Yat-sen before, most notably in the film The Soong Sisters(1995) as well as the title role of the television series, Sun Yat-sen
The fm has 2 directors listed, Jackie Chan & Zhang Li.Li is officially titled ‘Geneal Director and here’s what he has to say aboutthat role...
GENERAL DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
“Despite having the title as General Director for 1911, mostof my time during the production I was in fact serving as a consultant. ZhangLi is an outstanding director: he knew how to capture each of the scenes farbetter than I would during the shoot. But how to let the global audienceunderstand and appreciate this film requires a delicate balancing act betweenreconstructing history and allowing for imagination. There are many battlescenes in this film: I'd provide my advice based on my own experience on how tochoose between visually arresting action and the reality of battle.
Today we have a China that is relatively well-off, thanks tomany before us who risked their lives, eschewed personal gains, honour andglory, giving themselves for the benefit of the country and its people. Everycountry must sustain a fair and stable society first, then talk aboutprosperity and abundance. We should all cherish and protect what we have aroundus. This is the important message that I want 1911 to bring forth.”
Zhang Li has worked as the cinematographer on several films,including ‘ Red Cliff’ & ‘Red Cliff 2’ and ‘The Banquet’. 1911 is his firstfilm as a director and he has this to say...
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
“1911 is a film specially made for the centenary of theXinhai Revolution. This epic is like the unfolding of a large-scale scrollpainting, with scenes shot entirely on location. The retelling of the events of1911 is a way of using art to revisit those revolutionary heroes, theirpatriotism and willingness to risk their lives. The Xinhai Revolution is agreat revolution of the people in the modern history of China. It overthrew theQing dynasty, ending more than two millennia of feudal rule and opening a newchapter in Chinese history with the establishment of a Republic. The film 1911is a vehicle to retrace and show respect to that collective memory of a nation.Our mission is to continue to foster the spirit of the Xinhai Revolution, tocontinue the ideals of our forebears. All of us in the production and creativeteam applied our efforts in the hope of recreating the story, images, scenes,so that the people will further understand the historical mission and bemotivated by the collective wish to realize the rejuvenation of the greatChinese nation.”
Here’sthe trailer...
Country | Date |
China | 23 September 2011 |
Hong Kong | 29 September 2011 |
Singapore | 29 September 2011 |
USA | 12 October 2011 |
Japan | 5 November 2011 |
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