“Demon Hunter” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” are names that people from various countries must be acquainted with. Films have become an inseparable part of our lives. Different cinemas or streaming service platforms provide channels for people to watch them. It is undeniable that a film’s message massively influences our daily habits or even the ways we get along with others.
Recently, the K-drama Tempest came into the world’s view this September with an awe-inspiring cast and storyline. Yet, one of the lines drew Chinese people’s attention: “Why does China prefer war? A nuclear bomb could fall near the border.” Apparently, this line contains hostility towards China, which hinders international relations and has infuriated Chinese audiences. This raises the question: how do films influence us in real life? I believe that the creator of a film should always be responsible for the content, as the stronger the ability to spread messages you have, the more responsibility you carry. Therefore, I will evaluate the impacts that can be brought about by an offensive drama.
First and foremost, not only has it destroyed the reputation of the actors themselves, but the malicious mischaracterisation of a country has also diminished the quality of the drama. When the casting of Tempest was released, citizens were looking forward to it as Gang Dong-Won and Jun Ji-hyun, who both won numerous awards in Korea, are playing the protagonists. Unfortunately, the offensive plot extinguished the audience’s enthusiasm. For instance, in a scene where all the people are having a discussion in a meeting room, the carpet under people’s shoes is red and decorated with a star-shaped pattern, which social media users claim to be the Chinese flag. In another plot point, Jun delivers lines criticising China as belligerent, which led internet users to question why she did not refuse the script. This led to an aggressive boycott of Tempest in China, resulting in the loss of a tremendous Chinese market.
Moreover, plots deemed offensive provoke conflict between citizens of diverse countries and may even harm the international economic balance. Returning to Tempest, as actress Jun spoke the words which were interpreted as hostile towards China, netizens started calling for brands to sever ties with her. Despite the growing backlash, some defended Jun, arguing that she was not the one who wrote the script. The international conflict lasted for a few days. Eventually, according to BBC News, American skincare brand La Mer, French luxury brand Louis Vuitton, and Swiss watchmaker Piaget removed Jun from their social media platforms. Apparently, many more undisclosed sponsorships and endorsements were also curtailed. Furthermore, as there had already been a ban on Korean culture in China due to political issues, this drama only worsened the economic imbalance between the two countries, as K-dramas and K-pop are not able to enter the Chinese market while Chinese dramas can still profit from the Korean market, causing further resentment from the other side.
Perhaps most importantly, a drama that expresses hostility towards another country can lead to inappropriate education for teenagers, harm their growth, and destroy a peaceful learning environment. The movie Undercover Team Behind Enemy Lines, an anti-Japanese film, was released in China in 2011. However, the plot portrayed Japanese soldiers as lustful whenever they saw women, speaking Japanese in a sarcastic tone, and kneeling down to beg for mercy in fear when fighting the Chinese army. Historically, China indeed claimed victory in the war against Japan, yet the movie sent the message that Japanese people were merely cowards rather than showing that China eventually won the war through fierce and mournful confrontation. Such a false concept not only nurtures teenagers’ hatred and disdain towards Japan while teaching them an incomplete version of history, but simultaneously fails to remind them of the enormous efforts made by Chinese soldiers. Patriotism has its place, but not at the expense of the heroic sacrifices made by our predecessors.
While it may be argued that such controversial plots can increase the popularity of films, I would argue that rather than raising the reputation of such works, they only attract disgust. As seen in the consequences of Tempest, this K-drama indeed led to intense discussion online, disproving the old adage that “there is no such thing as bad publicity”. A masterpiece can be praised only for its comprehensiveness in storytelling, such as Revolution of Our Times, not for exaggeration or one-sided mischaracterisation.
In a nutshell, film creators should always be responsible for the content of their work, as films can have major impacts in various aspects. An offensive plot can devastate the quality of a production, hinder economic growth, and negatively affect the development of teenagers. In this technology-driven era, films are a medium for people to showcase their acting talents and storytelling skills. People should not use films to spread hostility towards another country or distort historical truth. Moving forward, it is hoped that more genuine messages can be conveyed through films to counter attempts to ignite conflict among audiences around the world.
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Wong Lok Sum
News Commentary Competition – The 3rd Runner-up of Junior Form
Heep Yunn School