Pro-democracy protesters across Asia have urged Disney fans to boycott the release of Mulan, citing the lead actress' alleged pro-Beijing views. The movie, directed by New Zealand-born director Niki Caro, is a remake of the classic 1998 animated Disney film, which itself was a retelling of the Chinese folk tale. It follows the heroine, Mulan (Liu Yifei), as she heads off to fight in a war disguised as a man to save the life of her father (Tzi Ma). She ends up becoming a key figure in the victory and, after revealing her true identity, becomes a folk hero.
Mulan was scheduled to be released in March this year but was pulled from the release schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic. Disney then made the unprecedented decision to release it on Disney+ for the cost of $29.99, creating a new category on the service called Premier Access, and it is available to purchase from Friday. Early reviews for the film call it an epic tale that deserved a big-screen release, lamenting the fact that it will only be seen on TV screens.
However, The Guardian reports that pro-democracy protesters from Hong Kong, Thailand, and other Asian countries are calling on fans to boycott the release. Protesters are unhappy about Disney's links to China, which has suppressed pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in recent years. They're also protesting the movie's star after she expressed support for the Beijing-backed Hong Kong police last year. Fans have taken to social media to encourage the boycott using the hashtag #milkteaalliance, a reference to the drink that is popular throughout Asia.
Protesters point to the irony inherent in the situation, given Mulan is a film about a figure who fights against authority to make a change for the better. They say that by boycotting the movie's release on Disney+, it will send a message to China. This isn't the first time the issue has been raised, with protesters already encouraging the boycott over a year ago. Whether the efforts of the protesters will have any impact remains to be seen.
The movie is available worldwide, and the popularity of the original, as well as the positive reviews for this version, means that it will likely be a hit with audiences who aren't involved in the protest movement. It will also be shown in theaters in China in a week, meaning that Chinese audiences will give the film a boost. It is an unfortunate situation for Mulan to be in, given that by all accounts, it is a worthy remake of the original.
Source: The Guardian
