Dear Jim,
Thank you for the movies you lent me. Both are great
movies. But if I were American, I would enjoy it more
because these movies are very American in the way
heroes are defined and made.
But as a Chinese, Sand Pebbles sometimes upsets me
because it seems to make Chinese look like nothing but
mobs who twist situations for their goal (such as the
killing of the pregnant woman). The movie makes it
look like there is less humanity in the Chinese than
in the Americans who are aboard this ship. Chinese at
this time were made to look like intimidating forces
threatening Americans, but one cannot help wondering:
Why is the ship there in the first place? Our
description of history tells us a story much from the
perspective similar to that of Jamerson. Our
collective memory tells exactly the opposite things:
we thought that the foreigners at this time in these
military or polictical missions were provocative, and
are unfairly privileged, and caused us great
sufferings, which jeopardizes the good will and good
work that could have been done, such as teaching and
mission work. And as you recall from Madam Jiang
Kai-shek's article in the Atlantic Monthly, China was
struggling with issue of foreign exploitation at this
time of national awakening.
We thought that is the exploitation and all the unfair
treaties that lead to all the anti-foreign sentiments.
The movie is very true on this level. Usually the
Chinese governments are quite docile in front of
foreign powers in spite of all their slogans for
national interests (except during Mao's time). It's
the people that can turn against foreigners because
they are frustrated that their governments are not
doing enough to protect them against foreign invasion
or intrusion. I see the same thing here in the US.
All administrations start with China bashing of some
sorts to get votes, but once in power, they went on to
get along fairly well with China. Yet it is the
people who turn against China, Chinese people or
Chinese goods. Unless that changes, the two nations
cannot actually get along with each other. It is
great if the peoples find ways to get along with each
other, because that matters more.
I am a little puzzled that the nationalists government
are turned against the foreigners at this time. I am
not sure if that is true to history, because the close
alliance with the Americans is what the communist
party often faults the nationalists with. And it is
pretty well known later on that the nationalists used
US-armed forces against the communists in the
nationalist-communist civil war. The nationalist
takeover of Nanjing should not have been a cause for
distress for Sand Pebbles. I am wondering if there is
a time in history when the nationalists are against
the US as well. Because the other movie (painted
veil) seems to say the same thing. I need to look
into that. I remember the Pearl Buck book says
something about that as well?
That's a lot of reflections for now. But both movies
are very much thought-provoking. Thanks for sharing
them.
Have a great week!
Berlin
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