Kung fu film attacked by senior Taoist
Print Edition
AWARD-winning director Chen Kaige’s latest kung fu film “Monk Comes Down The Mountain” has angered a senior Chinese Taoist, who said the film demonized his religion.
Meng Chongran, vice chairman of the Chinese Taoist Association, cited scenes in the movie featuring robbery, murder and sex.
The film, based on a best-selling novel, tells the story of a Taoist monk skilled in kung fu who leaves an isolated mountain for the city in the 1920s to discover his role in the secular world, where he becomes involved in conspiracies and encounters strange characters.
In a statement posted on the WeChat account of a Taoist association, Meng demanded the film be pulled from screens nationwide. The director and producers owe the public an apology, he said.
However, the protest looks to be more personal than official, as the CTA has denied issuing a statement on the matter.
The film’s producers had contacted the association before making the film and revised the script at its request.
Chen has not responded to Meng’s charges, but many people, including some Taoists, went online to say Taoists should not be so sensitive about a work of fiction.
“Maybe Chen’s film is not a precise reflection of Taoism, but it helps the audience to get to know the religion,” said Liang Xingyang, a Taoist priest and secretary-general of the Taoism Association of Xi’an.
While some may agonize over the depiction of Taoism, others, disappointed by Chen’s film “The Promise” in 2005, railed against the film, urging moviegoers to avoid it.
Movie critic Maggie Lee said the film “is an uncharacteristically lightweight martial-arts caper with a touch of Zen (and sin).”
Despite the controversy, the film has earned about 400 million yuan (US$64 million) since its debut on July 3.
“Monk Comes Down the Mountain” took three years to complete. It was produced by two mainland entertainment groups and Columbia Pictures.
An iconic figure among China’s film directors, Chen is known for his visual flair and epic storytelling. He won the Palme d’Or, for “Farewell My Concubine” in 1993.
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