My movie review of "Flowers of War"

Movie Review: "Flowers of War" dir. Zhang Yimou, China
by Brad Janzen
I went with two expat friends of mine in Beijing (one from Scotland, and one from Northern Ireland) to watch the new Zhang Yimou movie "Flowers of War" at a small cinema in Wudaokou (university district of Beijing). It is the first Chinese feature film with a Western star (English actor Christian Bale, whom I had thought incorrectly was American). It is about 40% English/60% Mandarin (with Chinese and English subtitles).
The film takes place during the fascist Japanese occupation of Nanqing (known to history as the "Rape of Nanking") and employs quite vivid imagery to drive home the horrors of war. Christian Bale plays a heavy-drinking American mortician stuck in a monastery in Nanqing during the Japanese onslaught. Circumstances basically require him to "become" a "priest", as he develops a genuine concern for the fate of Chinese refugees who have managed to flee to the convent for safety. The film abounds with counts of both petty individualism, and heroic sacrifice and solidarity; I'll leave the reader to see the film for her/himself for more specifics (not a fan of spoilers).
All three of us thought it was a good movie, but definitely not a light, happy one. (although there are some small moments of comic relief). What the Japanese militarists did to China is a story that every Chinese person knows well. I think not so much in the West. (Even less known in the West is the sickening 'medical' experiments, patterned after the Nazis, which Japan employed in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China....not mentioned in the film, but known by the Chinese people and worthy of note). I don't know what kind of treatment (distribution, etc) this film is getting in the US (perhaps, even more interestingly, in Japan), but the U.S. and China were on the same side in this war...and the lead character is an American (the character, if not the actor), so this film provides, I think, a good opportunity for Americans to familiarize ourselves with a very tragic period in Chinese, and World, history, which still has a profound influence on the sentiments and thinking of the Chinese people.
As there is recent talk of Japan abandoning its traditional post-WWII pacifist policy, (not to mention the continuous and ongoing outrages of American imperialism) perhaps the timing of the film is propitious. If you get the chance to catch this film, I recommend it.

Will go with some friends to see the new Zhang Yimou movie "Flowers of War" (English title) starring Christian Hale. He plays a priest, I think a Schindler-like figure who helped to rescue some Chinese people during the Japanese aggression known to history as the "Rape of Nanqing".  At least that's what I think it's about.....I'm pretty sure it's not a comedy.  LOL. But I have appreciated some of Zhang Yimou's work in the past, so looking forward to it!

I keep getting more modest with my China travel plans. I know I want to get out of Beijing, see more of China. Started with the thought of Harbin in January (brrrrrrrr!), then was thinking about Changsha, Hunan in February. Now, I'm thinking about Qingdao in March! (modest because it's only a few hours by high speed rail.....coastal town with good seafood, mostly know for Tsing Tao- i.e. Qingdao- beer)....seems would be an easy trip for a new China person like myself ;-)

my little modest local hutong was torn down (make room for highrises). I really love Beijing hutongs, fortunately many are now protected by the government, but not the one in my neighborhood.just went there the other night, and what had been a nice play of neon lights and social activity was now dark, with people sledgehammering the small stores I had become accustomed to visiting

Beijing winter is here! Today the low is 15 Fahrenheit (currently 34F at 6:30pm).  I'm actually pleased to discover that the winter here will be, I think, more bearable than I had feared.  I was fine today (the wind was a bit harsh, but could be much worse)

I finally have a Chinese name, much thanks to my Chinese coworker Apple.  My Chinese name is 赵 锐凡 (Zhao Rui Fan)...carries the meaning of sharp, intelligent, fighting spirit.....I ran Apple's suggested name by some other Chinese coworkers, and they like it. I like it too, so this is now my Chinese name. Close friends can call me Rui Fan, and mom can call me Fan Fan.....Zhao is my "family name" (and, of course, you can always just call me Brad)  LOL

CCTV today said that there is a "mysterious haze descending upon northern China". I think I can solve the "mystery". It's COAL-INDUCED SMOG!!!!!! Not so pretty, but not really "mysterious".
In other news, last week is the first time since I've been in Beijing that a mysterious white substance fell from the sky and blanketed the city landscape (i.e. it snowed)

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-11-28/markets/30449203_1_guess-public-sector-government-sector
The Chinese economy is doing quite well, considering the state of the world; and they are doing it with the largest public sector employee force in the world!  Government CAN provide Jobs! And socialism can work!

First time I've seen this on a menu.  Being of the Anthony Bourdain school of thought regarding food (i.e. willing to try anything that other people eat once), I asked for it.  They were out of this particular item currently.  Dog meat is not consumed by most Chinese, but still fairly common in the extreme Northeast of the country. Since I've been in China, I have tried donkey and fried scorpion.  Donkey was delicious, scorpion was OK (Hate to sound cliche, but it does indeed taste like fried chicken).

I had been planning to go to Harbin this winter to see their amazing Ice and Snow Festival, but now I'm thinking about traveling to warmer climes this year.  Maybe Changsha, capital of Hunan province.  I love Hunan cuisine. I met a couple of guys yesterday who live in Changsha, were in Beijing on business (one of them owns a travel agency).  I'll give him a call if I go there.  He was interesting. I was asking him about his travels. Was particularly interested that he had been to Pyongyang, DPRK (North Korea) and loved it.  I would be very interested to go, but it's very different for an American to go versus a Chinese.  Chinese don't even need a visa to go.  Americans face special restrictions (must have a guide/watcher with you at all times, etc) and also very expensive.  But I think I may check into Koryo Tours some years down the line....would have to be an interesting trip!

I like the chairs at Masala Indian Restaurant (in the Mao Er Hutongs east of Houhai).

Hypocrisy of Western Anti-China Propaganda Re: Africa

http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2011-10/26/content_13977288.htm

China is Socialist, and Socialism Can Work!

China's Socialist Market Economy described by capitalist (AP) press:

"Beijing's communist authorities 'have lots of levers they can pull, unlike U.S. authorities.'"
"The government owns most of the biggest companies and banks. It controls the currency.
"Chinese policymakers can also order state-owned banks to lend if the economy slows much. They can command local governments to keep workers busy building roads and bridges."

Yes, China IS socialist, even if at an early stage of socialism. Do capitalist multinationals operate in China? Of course they do! But this does not in and of itself make China a capitalist country.  The Soviet Union in the 1920s under Lenin's leadership also made necessary arrangements with global capitalist enterprises during the New Economic Period, in the interest of economic development, while maintaining control of the "commanding heights of the economy". The same appears true of China.  China is a developing country.  A developing socialist country.  And YES, socialism can work!

Fake 100RMB note

Can you guess which one is the fake 100RMB note? The sad thing I must report is that I received this fake bill from a Bank of Communications ATM.  Now I know the procedure for future reference....Check the bills in front of the ATM, and if you get a fake, hold it to the camera, note the date and time, and report it to the police.  (100RMB is about $15USD, fyi)   

My Fake Nokia

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You've gotta watch out for fakes in China!  I thought I was buying a Nokia...but if you look carefully, I actually bought a Nokla!   ergh....fortunately, it works OK.  And it's good for a laugh ;-)

Hey! Coming

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Chinese sometimes come up with some pretty funny English names for their establishments. It's "Hey! Coming" in Wudaokou!

We're Trying to Sleep Here!

Chinese people are very friendly...to a point LOL. This is in a part of Beijing with a higher than normal distribution of obnoxious, intoxicated foreigners, so to the Chinese apartment dwellers trying to get some sleep....I say, more power to you
;-)

My First Blog Post

This is my first go at blogging...so we shall see what sorts of quirks I'll need to work out.  Any advice is welcome.  I've been living and working in Beijing, China since June 25, 2011 (4 months at the time of this writing); and figured all of my friends who incessantly tell me I should start a blog, and I should write more, are right.