Confucius: The Movie

OK, we knew at some point this had to happen: the major big budget PRC movie on Confucius.  Jeremiah is on the story.

After the criticism that emerged within China about Slumdog Millionaire and Kung Fu Panda, the prospects are not very good that this will be a searching and insightful film.  Hagiography comes immediately to mind.

For my two cents, first let me mention something that a friend, who knows Confucianism well (but who will remain nameless here), said when he saw that Chow Yun-fat will play the role of the Master: the actor is too handsome.  Apparently, Confucius was not known for his striking good looks.  But I guess we have to give the producers a break: historical accuracy will have to give way to modern sensibilities about beauty.

Here's what I am most curious about, however.  How will they handle the rather un-Confucian aspects of Confucius's life?  Like his supposed divorce from his wife (which would seem to break a vow and deny an obligation that should be rather central to a Confucian family-oriented ethic)?  Or the fact that his parents died young and he never faced the duty of caring for them when he himself was an adult?

No, this movie will not only venerate the historical image of Confucius, it will also add to the historical eclipse of Mao Zedong: no contradictions allowed!

Comments

[Alfred]

The question is, why? Why a film about Confucius? Even now some claim Hu Jintao's "Harmonious Society" is not Confucian. And yet the ending of this film proclaims (if I read it right) that Confucius is the greatest teacher of 'our' time. This film studio is a Beijing studio and so must have had CPC go-ahead. What is the object of showing Confucius suffering for his principles on a 'long March'-like odyssey. Why promote a teacher as greater than Mao? Are they laying the path for an official revival of Confucius teaching? As national ideology, replacing the now defunct Marxism? It would be a brave step.

BTW I like the name of your blog. The useless tree survives the foresters. But only Daoists profess this - not Confucians. One must assert all one's energies to ensure the welfare of the people not hide away like a hermit. BTW the film perpetuated the Daoist lie that Lao Zi was Confucius teacher. Shame! The Daodejing was written over a 100 years after the Master.