Jackie Chan’s historical epic 1911 is his 100th feature, and chronicles “the founding of the Republic of China when nationalist forces led by Sun Yat-sen (Winston Chao) overthrew the Qing Dynasty.”
At the beginning of the 20th Century, China is in a state of crisis. The country is split into warring factions, the citizens are starving, and recent political reforms have made matters worse, not better. The ruling Qing Dynasty, led by a seven-year-old emperor, and his ruthless mother, Empress Dowager Longyu (Joan Chen) is completely out of touch after 250 years of unquestioned power.
With ordinary citizens beginning to revolt openly, the Qing Dynasty has created a powerful, modern army (the “New Army”) to quash any rebellion. But weapons are expensive, and desperate for cash, the Qing leaders are trading anything they can get their hands on with foreign countries…and selling China_s future in the process. Huang Xing (Jackie Chan) has recently returned from Japan, where he has studied the art of modern warfare. When he finds his country falling apart, he feels he has no choice but to pick up the sword, leading an increasingly desperate series of violent rebellions against the powerful Qing Dynasty and the New Army-several with tragic consequences. From the walls of the Forbidden City to the battlefields of China, with no expense spared in production and no detail ignored in its quest for historical accuracy, 1911 is a true epic in every sense of the word.
Jackie Chan co-directs the movie with cinematographer Zhang Li (Red Cliff). Chan (now 57) has received stars on the Hong Kong Avenue of Stars and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1911 is a Well Go USA/Variance release, runs 125 minutes, is in Cantonese and Mandarin with English subtitles, and is not yet MPAA rated. Contains graphic violence.
[Photo: Courtesy Variance Films/Well Go USA]
