TAI PAN
Watch the movie in the Free Choice English Movie Library.
This is the story of how the British illegally and through military might forced the peaceful and friendly Chinese to cede control of Hong Kong for 100 years.
//
As I watched this movie I was struck by the similarities between the way the British treated the Chinese and the way the Americans treated the Africans. The whites, operating under the false sense of superiority exploiting their work force as slaves and the women as exotic playmates between the sheets. Separate but equal was the theory but the reality was separate and very unequal.
Even in death there was no dignity for Chinese for the concubine was not allowed to be buried in the same cemetery with her paramour. They may be able to enjoy the hereafter together but they shall not travel there from the same cemetery. UNBELIEVABLE!
What I do not understand is why this movie was banned from mainland China for the longest time. From my western point of view it is the British who should be embarrassed by this story and not the Chinese who were victims of the British arrogance, racism and Navy. The British were engaged in criminal and immoral activities of prostitution and selling cocaine, not the Chinese. The Chinese were victims.
What are your thoughts?
DO NOT TELL US WHAT SOME OTHER WEB SITE SAYS ABOUT THIS MOVIE.
DO NOT POST UNTIL YOU HAVE WATCHED THE MOVIE.
China is one country of ancient civilizations since ancient times, and China has a long cultural tradition. Patriotism and nationalism is our basic moral standards, therefore, from a cultural point of view, we only accept advanced Western culture, not total absorption. Strong and unyielding character is the most essential character of the Chinese people, perhaps it is very difficult to understand for the West.
The first page of modern Chinese history, that is, the British blew open the door of China with opium, taking up Hong Kong. But the film’s point of view is very differen from what we read about in textbooks. It described the ambitious Brits stubborn and unyielding, and struggle with people, struggle with nature, creating an impressive Hong Kong. From the eyes of foreigners to see anti-smoking campaign. Hong Kong can be seen to be originally the land of wilderness. Tai Pan’s playmate was played by Joan Chen, is she the epitome of the Chinese people at that time? In addition to using the body to please the British, she had no choice.
Joan Chen then was criticized badly by the mainland people. Role did not matter. Joan was young and beautiful, glamorous. Indeed, very sexy, definitely can feel something under the transparent gauze. Now it seems nothing, but in China 20 years ago, can be cursed for granted.
I spent more than two hours in watching this film. I think it is the kind of film that makes me sad, then makes me mad, and leaves me breathless, realizing that the reality of what occurred is surely far more sorrowful than anything that can be captured on film. It is a painful history that the British illegally and through military forced the peaceful and friendly Chinese to cede control of Hong Kong for 100 years. The British were engaged in criminal and immoral activities of prostitution and selling cocaine. What is worse, in the opinion of the British, it is reasonable for the opium trade in China. When I saw here, my heart is very heavy. Although history is heavy, I think we still have to optimistically face reality and the future. Do a Chinese bounden duty.
I think the reason of banning to broadcast this movie just is that there are some sex scenes in this movie, and in that time china government was not allowed such scenes to appear in public view.
After I have watched this movie, I strongly felt that every coin has two sides. From English’s view, maybe Chinese is so unenlightened that they can kill anyone, even if a merchant, as long as they want. And at the same time, I see why Chinese government has forbidden so many movies from getting into Mainland China’s market. Since even if the very greatest action of burning opium at Humen which is respected and honored by our nation so much for such a long time, can be performed to be an unacceptable deed. Maybe it’s just why this movie has been banned from mainland China for the longest time. Because many Chinese can not think very carefully, and they can be affected so easily by appearances which are not true at all. To be ashamed, even I have already been cheated by the actor’s handsome and thoughtful activity and felt that his death was such a pity. Well, throughout watching this movie, I also learned something about why English didn’t willing to give Hong Kong back to China, since they did spend a lot of money and time on it. So it really could be understood now.
This movie is worth watching so much, and thanks for the recommendation.
I’ve heard of this movie before, so as soon as I saw the name of the movie, I watched it immediately. This is a good movie; it was based on the fact. I think it was banned for a long time in mainland China for two reasons.
First, Chinese love face. Although we were treated badly by the English man, we still thought it was a shame! We were not like to give others to see our hurts.
Second, maybe the movie had some open shots that made it banned in mainland China for a long time. At the point of today, we regard it as usual. But as I know, the movie was shot in 1986, a transition period for Chinese. So it is quite natural that the movie was not accepted by the mainland China.
If you’re weedy and weak person, other people may tease you. It is the same sense for a country. But when a country leads the world, it probably neglects the possibilities of failure and considers itself as the unique judge. So it is arrogant to many new things and would be retarded. Human beings want to create perfect world since the birth of civilization. We dream of “Golden Days”. But the truth is each human being has innate desire to control other people. So everyone and every country should be restricted by something.
Racial discrimination is not the key of colonization and invasion and the economic inequality just is the key and sometimes I don’t understand why so called Civilized Person could commit so atrocious crime, later I know, no matter how hard modern people emphasis the importance of morality, but these can`t repress the natural Selfish instincts morality often struggle against interest with in all of us, but which will win, who knows. In the case of the ban of the movie, in my opinion, the government was unwilling for people to see the British cruelty and Chinese humiliation, what’ more, there is no contend but bear in this movie.
I spend two hours watching this movie. In fact, the words impressed me a lot were Tai Pan’s words to his son that “Opium for Chinese silver and silver for Chinese tea”. When they were forced to leave Guangdong, they occupied Hong Kong. Most of our historical books describe the Opium War in China. And I really angrily denounce the functionaries at that time for their compromise and collusion. Chinese lost so much silver and most of people were Opium addiction at that time. But I think the British also should be embarrassed by their criminal and immoral activities.
As a Chinese, I think this is the history most of us don’t want to be reminded by any others. It shows how weak we had been. Maybe this is the reason why the movie was banned by government. It may show something true but not welcomed by Chinese. In fact, if we don’t face to our shame and weakness, we can’t be stronger.
The movie reviews the sorrowful story of china as a semi-colony. I guess China forbade the film for a long time for the reason that China didn’t want any western materials enter China when China was unacceptable for western world. You are right it is the British who should be embarrassed by this story and not the Chinese who were victims.
I watched this movie several days ago. The movie was filmed in China in 1980s, and the main actress was a famous Chinese star at that time. The movie showed us how the British took over Hong Kong and how they abused Chinese people and treated them as slaves. A lot of silver went out from China, with a lot of opium went in to destroy Chinese people’s health. How angry and distressed! And in my opinion, the movie also showed us that if one country fell behind the others, she might be taken advantaged of or be conquered by the stronger one. So, we should work harder and try our best to develop our motherland. But even when we become strong enough, we should stick to the principle of “world peace”, building a peaceful world.
I have not watched this movie ,but I have heared this movie and read some comments about this movie.Yes ,I think it is the English who should be embarrassed by this story and not the Chinese who were victims of the British arrogance, racism and Navy.China is the victims。So we chinese should look at the history correctly, learn from it, and not hide from history
I can understand why you thought it is unbelievable, as is known to all, chinese is such traditional nation that they will hold the idea that it is a scandal, even if he is the victims of the British arrogance, racism and Navy, therefore, this movie was banned from mainland China for the longest time.