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Reader comments on Hero
Subject: Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!
Date: Sep 9, 2004
If you have seen the rest of director Zhang Yimou's body of work, you will note that he, similar to fellow fifth generation filmmaker Chen Kaige, has been highly critical of the Chinese government (e.g. "To Live," and "Raise the Red Lantern"). Yimou films showed the reality of Communism, the suffering, the impoverish state, the reality, rather than spitting out a propaganda reel for nationalism. His films "Judou" and "Raise the Red Lantern" were temporarily banned in China as a result. And because of this, most of his films had to be financed outside of China.
***SPOILER ALERT***
The ending of "Hero" is one of irony. Nameless decides to spare the emperor because it would be hypocritical to kill for the sake of peace -- he trusts that the emperor would do the right thing from this act of mercy. The emperor, showing weakness, unfortunately does not and kills Nameless, which is a testament to his cruel reign. He conquers the remaining kingdoms and assimilates them into one common languange, one common rule. This is hardly a celebration of nationalism, especially given Yimou's film resume.
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Comment index:
Hero from Emily, Aug 25, 2004
truth from What's American, Sep 7, 2004
thanks from barb, Aug 28, 2004
» Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! « from Alfred, Sep 9, 2004
Awesome from Dan Omlor, Sep 13, 2004
Re: But from skeptikos, Dec 26, 2004
hero from tso t'an, Feb 21, 2005
ask from mujahid, Mar 31, 2006
Re: ask from Bubba Hotep, Apr 11, 2006
??? from Kessel, Nov 4, 2007
Bravo from tsering, May 29, 2010
Hero from Emily, Aug 25, 2004
truth from What's American, Sep 7, 2004
thanks from barb, Aug 28, 2004
» Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! « from Alfred, Sep 9, 2004
Awesome from Dan Omlor, Sep 13, 2004
Re: But from skeptikos, Dec 26, 2004
hero from tso t'an, Feb 21, 2005
ask from mujahid, Mar 31, 2006
Re: ask from Bubba Hotep, Apr 11, 2006
??? from Kessel, Nov 4, 2007
Bravo from tsering, May 29, 2010
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