Movie Review:
Stories of heroes exist within every culture and across many landscapes. The tale of a young girl who took the place of her ailing father to uphold the honor of her family has become legend within the country of China. When this tale was revealed to the world it became a popular and lasting phenomenon. A woman had taken the role of a hero, and in a time of change the story of Mulan became an inspiration to many people, women in particular. The role of the heroine is a role that changes the cultural landscape.
This is especially true in a country such as China, where women were at one time expected to be subservient homemakers and wives. Ambition was not encouraged in such days, nor was it entirely accepted. The story of Hua Mulan tells that as well as being taught to be a proper lady, her father also instructed her in the art of fighting and ways of war. While this is not a part of the legend that has been glamorized, it brings a new and interesting view to the story.
Throughout much of history it is often seen that tales of heroism and epic deeds are
dominated by men. While several cultures have their legendary females, many of them are
unbearably tragic and often do not depict a back story in which the heroine is seen in anything
but a morally ambiguous light. Joan of Arc for example was a heroine to her country, but also condemned as a witch by the church. Hua Mulan was, for all accounts, a female in a time when
women were considered not as skilled nor as valued as soldiers as men. Yet the impact she made
was so forceful that her story was allowed to live on throughout history as an inspiration to
many.
The original poem that inspired the story, “The Ballad of Mulan”, is featured in a
collection of Chinese poetry by Han H. Frankel (68-72). The ballad goes into detail concerning
the role of Hua in her family and how she takes her father’s place when the time comes to enlist
for war. Interestingly enough Hua Mulan’s story has shown an increasingly high level of
adaptability between cultures. Admittedly this has been greatly facilitated by the Disney movie Mulan (1998) that was released initially in the United States.
While several pieces of the original story have either been omitted or changed in order to translate better to both a new generation and a different culture, the essence of the story is the same. The adaptation by Disney did not sit well with many people in China, as is evidenced by critical reviews and articles stating the displeasure with which the movie was received. Even feminists seem to have an issue with the film as it makes several comments and allusions to the fact that the titular character must step into a man’s world to make a difference. Culturally speaking, Mulan became a symbol for many to find offense with, no matter that the original story was meant to be inspiring.
Many have forgotten the point of the story, and how its legend has inspired many a tale since its inception. Instead they remain mired in controversy over small snippets that are quite trivial. Despite the differences between the true tale and that brought to life by Disney, the gist of the story has not been lost in its transfer to a different culture. It has been changed to be more culturally acceptable and colorful so as to appeal to younger audiences, but the overall theme has been left intact. The dutiful daughter that took her father’s place to save him from certain doom is still very much the legend that was created so long ago.
Works Cited
Frankel, Hans. H. The Flowering Plum and the Palace Lady: Interpretations of Chinese Poetry.
New Haven: Yale University Press. 1976. Print.
Mulan. Dir. Tony Bancroft. Perf. Ming-Na Wen, B.D. Wong, Pat Morita, Eddie Murphy, and
George Takei. Buena Vista. 1998. Film.
