Completed - JAPANESE, MANDARIN - Historical, Drama - 43 minutes
This human drama at the end of the Qing dynasty is depicted as Jiro Asada’s world. Furthermore, this is not a mere historical story of China, but a human drama with “tears” in Jiro Asada’s style.
Year of production : 2010 Director(s) : Wang JUN Cast : Ryuzo TANAKA, Yin TAO, Yu SHAO QUN, Yukiyoshi OZAWA, Yuko TANAKA, Zhang BO, Zhou YI WEI
In 1887, the 11th Emperor of the Qing dynasty, the Guangxu Emperor, was reigning, however, he was young and the West Dowager Empress was wielding power instead. Countries in Europe and the United Sates were manoeuvring to gain ground on the continent, and the Forbidden City was a welter of opinions between the West Dowager Empress’s old-guard cronies and the reformists supporting the Emperor Guangxu over the future of the country. The story evolves around two youths. One is Ri Chunyun, also known as chun r, who chooses the path to become an eunuch to escape poverty. He advances in the court favoured by the West Dowager Empress. The other is Ryan UenShu. He passes the Imperial examination with a top score and advances in his career as a high-ranking official to become Emperor Guangxu’s confidante. The story begins when their chequered destiny brings the two together and they agree to become brothers. The story evolves as the West Dowager Empress and Emperor Guangxu both attempt to pull together the country in their own way, supported by chun r and Ryan UenShu. In addition, a ‘mysterious beauty’, Mrs. Chan, and a Beijing-based Japanese reporter, Keinosuke Oka, as well as many other real characters come into the picture. A human drama in turbulent Beijing at the end of the century. Before long. a fateful day arrives at the Forbidden City. Despite being virtually mother and son in a caring relationship, conspiracies and betrayals continue with the West Dowager Empress and the Emperor Guangxu colliding in a decisive conflict. An insurrection begins and the situation develops rapidly, when the characters are overwhelmed by the storms of the era.
Country(ies) : JAPAN, CHINA