How does the film’s historical context shape its message?
Once Upon a Time in China is a 1991 Hong Kong biographical martial arts film directed and produced by Tsui Hark, starring Jet Li as Wong Fei-hung, a legendary Chinese martial artist, physician, and folk hero. The story unfolds at the end of the 19th century, a period when unequal treaties imposed by Western countries weakened China’s sovereignty. While the film primarily focuses on Wong Fei-hung’s martial prowess and moral integrity, its backdrop cannot be ignored—it reflects a time when foreign powers exerted control over China, shaping its struggles and resistance.
Does the dominant power always dictate the narrative?
With the United States holding the position of the world’s most powerful country, it is easy to overlook how its worldview is imposed—whether actively or passively—on the rest of the world. Recent tensions in France concerning Algeria, a former French colony, serve as another example of how history is often told through the lens of the economically or militarily dominant power. Western nations have a long history of colonialism and imperialism, and their influence inevitably extended to Asia as well. While Once Upon a Time in China does not overtly center on political discourse, the underlying context remains crucial in understanding its significance.
Why is it so difficult to confront historical wrongs?
Don’t misunderstand—geopolitics are incredibly complex, and these deep-rooted issues cannot be resolved overnight. Even on a small scale, conflicts of interest arise regularly; when war, murder, and corruption are added to the mix, hatred and cycles of revenge become inescapable. Having been raised in France, with Chinese ancestry, and now living in Japan, I have had the privilege of residing in nations that are economically stable and not currently engaged in warfare. However, both France and Japan have imperialist histories that inflicted harm on other nations and populations. Admitting past mistakes is something humanity struggles with—it is far easier to ignore, deny, or even rewrite history to fit a nationalist agenda. Sometimes, this denial is passive, embedded within cultural narratives. Other times, it is deliberate, a tool used to justify political ideologies.
Can individuals stand against systemic injustice?
The tragic reality is that it only takes a few individuals, driven by greed and ambition, to destabilize entire societies. Just as one unruly child can disrupt an entire classroom, a handful of oligarchs, sitting at the top, can endanger us all—whether through war, unchecked capitalism, or the neglect of environmental crises. And yet, history has shown that resistance is always possible. In every nation, there have been figures who stood against oppression and became symbols of hope. Though Wong Fei-hung’s story has been romanticized, real-life individuals with wisdom and integrity have the power to challenge injustice and reshape the world for the better.
What do you think—do cultural narratives and historical films like Once Upon a Time in China help in confronting the past, or do they risk distorting history?
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