The Opium War (film)
| The Opium War | |||||||
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Japanese film poster | |||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 鴉片戰爭 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 鸦片战争 | ||||||
| Literal meaning | opium war | ||||||
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| Directed by | Xie Jin | ||||||
| Written by | Zhu Sujin Ni Zhen Zong Fuxian Mai Tianshu | ||||||
| Produced by | Chen Zhigu | ||||||
| Starring | Bao Guo'an Lin Liankun Sihung Lung Bob Peck Simon Williams Shao Hsin Su Min | ||||||
| Cinematography | Hou Yong Shang Yong | ||||||
| Edited by | David Wu Qian Lili Zhang Longgen | ||||||
| Music by | Jin Fuzai Huang Hanqi | ||||||
Production companies | Emei Film Studio Xie Jin / Heng Tong Film & TV Co. | ||||||
| Distributed by | Golden Harvest Mandarin Films (International) Co. Ltd. | ||||||
Release date |
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Running time | 150 minutes | ||||||
| Country | China | ||||||
| Languages | Mandarin English | ||||||
The Opium War (鸦片战争) is a 1997 Chinese historical epic film directed by Xie Jin. The winner of the 1997 Golden Rooster and 1998 Hundred Flowers Awards for Best Picture, the film was screened in several international film festivals, notably Cannes and Montreal. The film tells the story of the First Opium War of 1839–1842, which was fought between the Qing Empire of China and the British Empire, from the perspectives of key figures such as the Chinese viceroy Lin Zexu and the British naval diplomat Charles Elliot.
Unlike other films of the same era, The Opium War was endorsed by the government as culturally and historically significant. According to most critics, the film is factually correct in its essentials.
With a budget of $15 million (USD), The Opium War, was the most expensive film produced in China at the time of its release. Conceived to celebrate the handover of Hong Kong to China, it premiered in July 1997.