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Aamir Khan in Lagaan
APA Top Ten: Social Change in Asian Film
Riding the Obama high, we recount our favorite Asian films that inspire hope or depict progressive political upheaval.
America has no monopoly on hope and change, and neither does American cinema for that matter. 20th century Asia has seen its share of obstacles (colonialism, oppression, war) and cinema has been there to depict those who overcome challenges, or to incite everyday viewers into believing that they can.
Yet it was much harder that we expected to compile a list of 10 great Asian narrative films about social change. Many such films are in fact deeply conservative in that they play to nationalistic sentiments (see for instance the films of the Cultural Revolution). And those that examine the activist fervor in the fissures of society (feminism, labor, gay rights) typically depict the tragedy or even futility of social change (Lust Caution, Good Men Good Women).
Our list is not a comprehensive overview of political cinema in Asia. Political cinema in Asia is as complex, irreducible, and contentious as Asian politics itself. Instead, what we’ve chosen are films that reflect less Asian politics, but more the current fervor of hope and change. Given the individual social and historical contexts of each film, it might be easy to contend our choices. But for us Americans in November 2008, we’re inspired.
The Big Road (Sun Yu, 1935)
A classic of the leftist Shanghai cinema, the half-silent, half-singing The Big Road shows social change charging ahead, one brick and one song at a time. Director Sun Yu was a master at combining slum melodrama with high ideals and composer Nie Er (who also wrote the Chinese national anthem) provides the classic “Song of the Great Road.”
Ikiru (Akira Kurosawa, 1952)
In one of Kurosawa's classics, Takashi Shimura plays is an aging Tokyo bureaucrat who, spurred by the news that he has cancer, is forced to take stock of his life. Unfortunately, he realizes that nothing he's done as a jaded City Hall office chief has contributed to anyone's life purpose, let alone his own. But ikiru translates to "to live," so the film follows suit, as Watanabe furiously resurrects himself from the living dead. As the character strives to accomplish everything he can while he still has time, the audience is inspired to live life differently as well.
The Way of the Dragon (Bruce Lee, 1972)
When local hoods terrorize immigrants working at a Chinese restaurant, Bruce Lee steps in with some kung fu lessons and a deadly pair of nunchuku. Borderline racist but ridiculously empowering, The Way of the Dragon makes a case for standing up to one’s oppressors with a piece of their violent medicine.
The Story of Qiu Ju (Zhang Yimou, 1992)
Gong Li’s husband gets kicked in the balls by the village chief, and she’ll stop at nothing until she gets an official apology. In terms of sheer persistence in the face of injustice, The Story of Qiu Ju (arguably Zhang Yimou’s finest piece of storytelling) stands alone, elevated in large part by the crude and humorous premise. But its message (with determination, you can beat the bureaucracy) drew controversy from those who saw beneath it a dangerous subtext (the system allows you to prevail, therefore the PRC is great). Nevertheless, it’s the inspiration that matters; that protest is still suppressed in the PRC keeps Qiu Ju’s plight relevant.
Dil Se... (Mani Ratnam, 1998)
Our list wouldn't be complete without the other Khan, the King of Bollywood himself, Shah Rukh Khan. Dil Se's imagery is breathtaking, but what sets this film apart from other Bollywood flicks is the nontraditional storyline. The controversial story with a tragic ending left Indian filmgoers screaming mad at silver screen. The film's political criticism of the Indian government and its commentary on the justification of a terrorist's cause was also accompanied by the story's intense love story – reflecting upon the seven shades of love in Arabic literature: Hub (attraction), Uns (infatuation), Ishq (love), Adiqat (reverence), Ibadat (worship), Junoon (obesession), and Maut (death). One of the film's musical numbers, "Chaiya Chaiya," is considered one of the best Bollywood songs in recent memory, which showcases remarkable choregraphy (from famed choregrapher Farah Khan herself) on a moving train throughout India.
Joint Security Area (Park Chan-wook, 2000)
If most films on this list fight injustice with might, JSA suggests that progressive change comes from unexpected camaraderie and friendship, especially in the case of the two Koreas. With both sides looking at each other from the barrel of a gun, JSA dares to suggest that the two gunslingers are smiling at each other, playing poker, sharing pop records.
Lagaan (Ashutosh Gowariker, 2001)
Colonial India beats Britain at its own game in this cricket epic that found converts around the world. It works not simply because of the pump-up music or Aamir Khan’s handsome drive, but because it presents a challenge to authority on a field of equality, where even the mighty have to abide by the rules they’ve created.
University of Laughs (Mamoru Hoshi, 2004)
Starring one of Japan's leading actors and 1/5 of Japan's beloved boyband, SMAP, Koji Yakusho and Goro Inagaki take on the roles of two very different, yet complementary characters, in the silver screen adaption of Koki Mitani's University of Laughs. The mixture of comedy, censorship and the political climate of the 1940 Japan effectively develop the relationship between Yakusho's humorless censor chief and Inagaki's idealistic playwright which all unfolds as an emotional and engaging film about patriotism and the oppression of artistic expression.
Rang De Basanti (Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, 2006)
Notoriously picky about his projects, Aamir Khan sure likes his social cause films. A British documentary filmmaker comes to India to make a historical film about freedom fighters during the Indian Independence Movement. In the process, the locals that she uses as actors in her film get inspired to stand up and instigate some political action of their own. The tagline was "A Generation Awakens," and the box-office hit inspired Indian youth to get more involved in social activism. Some called this the "Rang De Basanti effect."
Compiled by Brian Hu, Kanara Ty, and Ada Tseng
Date Posted: 11/14/2008