The Opium War (鸦片战争) is a 1997 Chinese historical epic film directed by Xie Jin. The winner of the 1997 Golden Rooster and 1998 Hundred Flowers Awards for Best Picture, the film was screened in several international film festivals, notably Cannes and Montreal. The film tells the story of the First Opium War of 1839–1842, which was fought between the Qing Empire of China and the British Empire, from the perspectives of key figures such as the Chinese viceroy Lin Zexu and the British naval diplomat Charles Elliot.
Unlike many of its contemporaries, The Opium War was strongly supported by the state apparatus. Despite its clear political message, many Western commentators found the treatment of the historical events to be generally even-handed.
At the time of its release, The Opium War, with a budget of $15 million (USD), was the most expensive film produced in China. It was released to coincide with the Hong Kong handover ceremony in July 1997.
Plot
The story of Qing Dynasty official Lin Zexu and his battle against British imperialism is set at the start of 1838 during the first hints of the conflict that would become the Opium War which led to the ceding of Hong Kong to the British Empire. Lin Zexu is dispatched to Guangzhou to put an end to the British trader's mass selling of opium to the population, a move that leads him to blockade the East India Company. The British trade representative Eliot arrives in China to broker a public ceremony whereby the opium would be publicly dumped into the sea. That move does not please the politicos in London, who promptly dispatch massive firepower to attack China's ports.
Cast
Bao Guo'an as Lin Zexu
Lin Liankun as Qishan
Sihung Lung as He Jingrong
Shao Hsin as He Shanzi
Bob Peck as Denton (based on Lancelot Dent) Simon Williams as Charles Elliot Su Min as the Daoguang Emperor Jiang Hua as Guan Tianpei Li Shilong as Han Zhaoqing Li Weixin as Deng Tingzhen Gao Yuan as Rong'er Emma Griffiths as Mary Denton Philip Jackson as Captain White Garrick Hagon as Sidon Laughton Robert Freeman as Hill Denis Lill as Lord Eversley Corin Redgrave as Lord Melbourne Debra Beaumont as Queen Victoria Benjamin Whitrow as Lord Palmerston Oliver Cotton as James Bremer Zhou Chuanyi as Yiliang Ko Hsiang-ting as Yishan Liu Zhongyuan as Lü Zifang Shi Yang as Lin Sheng Gu Lan as senior minister Kong Xianzhu as He Rengui Chang Xueren as San Li Shaoxiong as Yao Huaixiang Yang Heping as military officer Yang Zhaoquan as blind musician Wang Fen as Qiuping Liang Yang as Baihe He Qingqing as Lanrui Zhang Wanwen as brothel owner James Innes-Smith as Prince Albert Edward Petherbridge as British Member of Parliament Dominic Jephcott as British Member of Parliament Tony Rushforth as British Member of Parliament Jamie Wilson (uncredited) as Paul Artuard Nigel Davenport (uncredited)
Production
The film was shot in the Hengdian World Studios in Zhejiang province, a common filming site for historical films which has been dubbed "Chinawood." In order to recreate the streets of 19th-century Guangzhou, nearly 120 construction teams from surrounding villages were assembled. In contrast, nearly all post-production took place in Japan.
Reception
Despite its clear political background (and its release on the eve of the return of Hong Kong to China), the film was generally well received by Western critics as a workable example of the big-budget historical film. Variety, in one review, begins with the fact that despite the film's "unashamedly political message," The Opium War was nevertheless "comparatively even-handed," while the film itself had excellent production values. The Guardian recognised that the film, despite its official backing, "was relatively nuanced," and praised the performance of Bob Peck as the venal opium trader Denton.
The film's domestic release was also positive, with The Opium War eventually winning the Golden Rooster for Best Film.