1911, A CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY FOR CHINA, IS A PROPAGANDA OPPORTUNITY
With Jackie Chan as Huang Xing, a military commander of China’s nationalist revolution, and Joan Chen as the Dowager Empress in prominent roles, how could 1911 not receive accolades? Released in Hollywood three days before the “lucky day” of 10/10, there should be every reason to honor the Chinese revolution led by Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (played by Winston Chao). And the film proceeds with a progression of titles indicating who and what. Battles are realistic, but yelling of orders and opinions seem crass. The rationale for the revolution boils down to ending feudalism and rebuilding China to a place of dignity on the world stage. Credit is given to the Overseas Chinese for funding the revolution and to Dr. Sun’s persuasive powers for stopping a European government loan to prop up the imperial government. The imperial army, led by Yuan Shikai (played by Chun Sun), schemes to hijack the revolution and indeed succeeds Dr. Sun as president when the emperor abdicates in 1912. Director Li Zhang credits the nationalist revolution for making possible the communist revolution which, the propaganda implies, redeems Dr. Sun’s ambition to restore China as a world power. But that goal takes almost another century to come to fulfillment. MH