Mulan Just Became Free on Disney+; Here’s Why You Should Boycott It
By Lily Scheckner
By Lily Scheckner
When the live action Mulan was first released on Disney+, fans were devastated to learn that the much-anticipated reboot would cost almost 30+ dollars to watch. Many resigned themselves to waiting 3 months before the film became free to subscribers, and low and behold, it is finally here. But before you eagerly turn on your TV and begin watching, let me explain why this is a movie you should skip.
Many Americans are aware of the controversies of the Hong Kong police force. From accusations of sexual assault to recordings of brutality, it is certainly not the most popular police force. Over the course of 2020, citizens have protested these various offenses, but these marches have been met with nothing but tear gas and cold shoulders from the government.
So when the star of Mulan, Liu Yifei, voiced her support for the Hong Kong police in August of 2019, people were not happy. “I support the Hong Kong police. You can all attack me now. What a shame for Hong Kong,” Liu posted on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform. Within hours, #BoycottMulan was trending on Twitter (a site that has, coincidentally, been banned in China). Unfortunately, by the time the movie was released on Disney+, the outrage had faded.
As unbelievable as it may sound, there is even more controversy surrounding this adaptation. One of the movie’s most famous scenes, where Mulan trains to fight in the army, was shot in China’s Xinjiang province. Specifically, it was filmed in a concentration camp that locks up, indoctrinates, and punishes inmates (according to firsthand accounts). And not only did Disney shoot the movie there, but they also thanked a number of government entities in the credits, including the public security bureau in the city of Turpan and the publicity department of CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomy Region Committee. Both of these are known for producing propaganda and supporting the concentration camps.
There is a very real possibility that these reasons have not swayed you from your intent to watch this movie. Separating content from creator has been a difficult choice for many over the course of this year, especially in the wake of J.K. Rowling’s controversial comments on gender identity. Some have chosen to continue to support the beloved Harry Potter series (while not supporting the author), while others have not. But if nothing else, know that should you choose to skip it, you are not missing much. The critic consensus has been subpar at best, with 5.6/10 on IMDb, 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, and 66% on Metacritic (this site also gave the movie 2.8% in audience reviews).
When the original Mulan was first released in 1998, it was praised for not only its admittedly unusual representation and diversity, but also for its wonderful female empowerment. However, the newest adaptation of this beloved movie has completely cheapened the former’s legacy. I am not asking you to “cancel” this movie or its star (in fact, you can read why that is a bad idea here). I simply suggest that you grab a bowl of popcorn and enjoy the original version of Mulan in all its glory.
Credit: A huge thank you to Maia Turpen of Silver Spring International Middle School for bringing this issue to my attention and helping me spread the word.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-50511063
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/09/hong-kong-arbitrary-arrests-brutal-beatings-and-torture-in-police-detention-revealed/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/16/disneys-mulan-star-sparks-call-for-boycott-with-hong-kong-stance
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/disney-faces-more-mulan-backlash-after-film-thanks-xinjiang-government-n1239679
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mulan_2020
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4566758/
https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mulan-2020