Mostly accurate historical account
6 April 2004
The literal translation of the title of this movie is: The Empress Dowager.

This movie is sarcastic about the current political situation in China by depicting what was in the past, so it is an indirect social criticism of the current regime. For example, the movie accurately depicted the fact that officials in the imperial courts are not selected by merits or ability, but by connection, and the incapable officials got their posts only because they were Manchurians and they kept their posts even though their lack of ability lead to military defeats. Even the most stupid Chinese can make the connection between the past and present because the two mirrors each other. This is the hidden message behind the scene.
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