Film Review: Reign Behind a Curtain - Essay Example

Cian Dowager was the second Empress consort of the Xianfeng Emperor of the Qing dynasty. She became famous as the cod-de-facto ruler of China with the Empress Dowager for almost 20 years. She launched the Xianyou coup, and they seized the power of Qing dynasty. Additionally, the tenth emperor of the Qing dynasty, Tongzhi emperor, was also featured in the movie. The emperor was only six years old when he became the successor of the emperor of the Qing dynasty. The movie also featured the eight ministers appointed by Xianfeng emperor when the emperor was in bad health.

To this note, Cixi and Cian make the Xinyou coup and the murder of Shusun; Zaidan and Runhua form the 8 ministers. Finally, there was Consort Li, born in 1837 in the reign of Daoguang emperor. She was forced to enter the Forbidden City in the year 1850 during the time when women selection was done. The women selection was done to allow women join the Xianfeng emperor’s imperial harem. She was also asked to stay and afterwards, she earned the Noble lady Li in the year 1852. Regarding subject matter, is educative and informative, for instance, it identifies the problems experienced in China both internally and externally.

All of these problems are shown by the analysis of several emperors in the dynasty. However, these problems were never dealt with since Xianfeng Emperor focused his life in hunting and dancing. He never indulged in the state affairs. Additionally, with the problems faced by China, the movie brings out traditionalism, irresponsibility, dictatorship, hatred, and sickness as the major themes. Traditional is evident from the performances done during the emperor’s birthday. This was traditional as it was a trend and mandatory practice in the dynasty.

Similar, hunting is another traditional aspect that reveals the culture and way of life of these people. Irresponsibility is portrayed by the emperor who spends his life in hunting and dancing, instead of