The Film Analysis - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Essay Sample)

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Film Analysis - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is set in 1779 in the 43rd year of Emperor Qianlong reign. This is during the time period when the Qing dynasty ruled over China. The film is based on the lives of warriors in Chinese folklore. It looks at their pursuit of livelihood burdened and adored with equal measure due to their skill. Li Mu Bai is the main protagonist in the film, an exceptional warrior skilled in the Wudang fighting skill. His love interest is Yu Shu Lien, a widow once married to his best friend. As such Mu Bai feels it is inappropriate to broach the subject of love between them, to Mu Bai an honorable warrior, such would be in a sense dishonoring the memory of his friend. Mu Bai wants to retire from his craft and asks his friend Yu Shu Lien to take his sword the Green Destiny to their mutual friend Sir Te. Thence begins a remarkably complicated tale of immeasurable proportions.
The film, a masterpiece directed by Ang Lee grossed an estimated US $128 million in box office sales CITATION Jor15 \l 1033 (Martínez). The win came in part as a surprise as the film was a foreign language film. The film also won multiple Academy Awards in different categories. However, the film also utilized a number of themes that struck a chord with audiences worldwide and resonated with them. Betrayal, love, power all powerful emotions that audiences no doubt responded to. The film’s integration of drama, action, cultural interaction and perhaps comedic critique contributed to its success.
This film analysis will investigate some themes in the film e.g. on the use of poison as a thematic style. The use of Poison during the era of the Qing Dynasty was frowned on. It was considered an act of cowardice and brought dishonor upon the warrior who utilized poison. Poison however in the film does not limit itself to poison in the physical sense. It also encompasses the moral degradation of the warrior’s holistic spirit. The film, therefore attempts to understand by juxtaposing the confusion obligation towards others and the Taoist aspiration to follow a set path. This analysis will attempt to delve into Ang Lee’s mind and to understand elements of style, generic convention and cinematography especially in relation to the film.
Discussion
Question 1
Any particular film can utilize generic convention to create a particular identity, feeling or sensibility in the mind of the audience. These conventions allow the film to construct the genre of the film e.g. Eerie noise, very tense sound effects and orchestral music create the Horror genre. The film is based on a Chinese novel by Wang Du Lu. The use of alternative voice with distinct Chinese accents allow for the creation of a distinct Chinese identity CITATION Jin14 \p 263-292 \l 1033 (Liu 263-292). The location setting for the film is in China, the film director also contributes to the Chinese identity by filming all scenes in the Chinese mainland. The film also utilizes mandarin in its oral dialogue providing even greater enhancement of the identity. The warriors also presents the case for a Chinese identity in contrast to the Samurai who would draw interest towards Japanese identity. The use of these conventions allows for a degree of flexibility for the actors. The actors evolution is seen by how they transit from a given stance to another e.g. Mu Bai’s evolution concerning his position as a warrior, from retiree to hopeful master of the Governor Yu’s daughter Jen. However, these conventions restrict the actor to acting within set standards with regard to Chineseness. If the director were to attempt to cross such boundaries in an attempt to exercise his creative freedom, there is the risk of losing the audience. The film attempts to disengage from the Chinese identity by utilizing a cast that is international in nature. The audience, can to a degree appreciate the international aspect of the production. The film does this so as to ensure the audience can appreciate the film without being confined to Chinese dogma and traditional belief.
Question 2
The film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (CTHD) utilizes a Confucian Chinese paradigm in its interpretation of the gender questionCITATION LiH12 \p 187-201 \l 1033 (Rosenlee 187-201). While there is a mainstream belief that Confucianism is inherently patriarchal, the presence of female warriors who are skilled and offer a challenge to Mu Bai, the protagonist. These include Yu Shu Lien, Jen and Jade Fox. The film construction of gender depicts the sexes as being equally capable but differently abled. Stereotypes such as the man being the pursuer of the woman is reinforced as when Lo pursues Jen to her death. The powerful female antagonist Jade Fox attacks the stereotype of women being considered as passive and averse to violenceCITATION Cat05 \p 47-57 \l 1033 (Gomes 47-57). The use of gender laden themes allows the film to provide a meaningful experience for global audiences especially in the age of romanticism. The film, is able to cut across demographics gender, religion and age by offering a single theme and structuring its message to the theme CITATION Mar12 \l 1033 (Mar).
Question 3
In the Film CTHD by Ang Lee, the issues of migration and transnationalism are manifest. The director is an immigrant to the United States. He credits the development of his skills as a filmmaker to his education at NYU. In this regard, migration has served to enrich both cultures and film industries. In his production of the film CTHD, Lee assembles an international cast and production team. The cast while predominantly Asian, reflects the changing tides of film. The production team is global in nature. Lee’s friend and partner American James Schamus assembles a global team to finance and distribute the film. The film embodies these themes in the setting of the film in a local Chinese cultural setting while retaining its appeal to a mass global audience. The film through thoughtful production transcends culture, language and politics. Lee ensures that the film attracts audiences that have no connection to the Chinese culture, language and political dynamics. The cosmopolitan nature of the global film audience is primarily seen hereCITATION Jor15 \p 34-48 \l 1033 (Martínez 34-48). In producing the film, there was a need for a director who not only understood the cultural dynamics and nuances of China but also understood how Hollywood works. Ang Lee the fit the description perfectly, the film views the global film audience as a singular Cosmopolis. The local setting, cast, production and distribution of the film are designed to match this. The film while predominantly pan-Chinese in its circulation does not alienate the global audience. The film does not emerge simply from a deliberate sino-american interaction but it reflects centuries of war, trade, migration, capitalist exchange between two nations. As such, the film is a response and an acceptance that two cultures are finally at a crossroads CITATION Mas02 \l 1033 (Masachussets Institute of Technology).
Question 4
Spectacle and performance in CTHD give the film a platform for expression especially with regard to the fight scenes in the movie. It allows the film to tell a Chinese story but with an American spirit, where good triumphs. The reason to fight is not really about winning but more about honor in the Confucian sense. Aspects such as music allow for the audience to be led into a scene. The visual design enhances delivery in the film, giving the film multiple avenues with which to connect with the audience. The film is of a performative nature as actors perform for the audience rather than simply act. The film downplays this nature by ensuring that fight scenes are short, space but of exceptional quality. These aspects contribute to enhancing the appeal of the film to an audience. However, they contribute little to the plot and are simply a tool to evoke emotion from the audience. The film contributes to the globalization of the Asian Film Industry. The film is to a degree an introduction to the world of the Chinese and Asian film industry. The film also seeks to loosen the hold of Hollywood on global audiences. While its influence on this particular film is undoubted, it is a pre-cursor to the globalization of film.
Question 5
The film CTHD received critical acclaim from audiences in the western world. Chinese audiences, however, responded differently with mixed feelings with regard to the film. Audience reception allows for a film to discern how well it performed. Audience reception gives useful feedback to directors and productions firms. The film’s first fight scene occurs 15 minutes in, this allows for scene setting which is essential especially for western audiences who at the time expected c...