Opium War

[Mark Schilling]

Re the query on Ahen Senso -- a new version, or rather a film with the same
title, will be released theatrically in Japan on December 13 by Toko
Tokuma, a member of the Tokuma Group. Daiei, which is the film production
arm of the Group, provided money and staff for the film. For information
about rental contact either the Daiei somu-bu at 81-3-3573-8711 or Tokuma
International at 81-3-3573-8100. Perhaps they could also help you locate
the Makino film, though I wouldn't count on it.    

FYI here's a column I wrote last year on the film for Tokyo Journal. The
casting of Princess Diana, of course, did not pan out:

  Princess Diana, coming to a theater near you? Though long the star of a
media soap opera, the recently divorced wife of the Prince of Wales has yet
to see her name on a movie's credit crawl. That, however, is about to
change if the producers of a Japanese-Chinese co-production called "Opium
War" have their way. A historical drama about the 1839 war that led to
China's cession of Hong Kong to Britain, "Opium War" features then-reigning
Queen Victoria and the producers insist that they are serious about getting
the Princess of Wales to play the role.
      At a July 23 news conference Yasuyoshi Tokuma, the chairman and CEO
of the Tokuma Group, whose Daiei subsidiary is serving as the film's
Japanese production partner, claimed that "following the announcement of
her divorce settlement, the likelihood of [Diana's] appearing has become
greater" and said that the part will be reserved for her until the end of
the year, even after principal photography concludes at the end of October
or beginning of November.  A Daiei source close to the production said that
the film's Chinese producers have enlisted the aid of the Chinese
government and are pursuing negotiations with Princess Diana's
representatives "through a variety of channels." The Princess's fee for the
role -- a reported Y300 million -- would presumably be donated to charity. 
      Directed by Xie Jin, "Opium War" has a total budget of 100 million
yuan or Y1.3 billion, of which the director's Shanghai-based production
company and its partners are putting up nearly 90 percent, with the
remainder, principally for post-production, contributed by Daiei. The film
is scheduled for release on July 1, 1997 -- the date of Hong Kong's
reversion to China. The film is also a candidate for worldwide distribution
by Disney, according to the deal signed between the studio and Tokuma
Shoten Publishing in July that gives Disney distribution rights to Daiei's
live-action product. "The Chinese see the film as a way of promoting good
relations with Great Britain following the reversion," said the Daiei
source. "That's why even the Chinese government is eager to have Princess
Diana take the role. It would be a diplomatic coup."           ?     ?
 
             But while wooing Princess Diana, The Tokuma Group is also
struggling to contain a public relations crisis stirred up by the Committee
Against Anti-Semitism in Japan, an organization of resident Jews in Japan
that, prior to the signing of the deal between Disney and Tokuma, sent a
fax to Disney chairman Joe Roth detailing Tokuma's role as a leading
publisher of anti-Semitic literature in Japan, including the works of
Masami Uno, a right-wing and anti-Semitic author whose two titles from
Tokuma have become bestsellers. Also formerly listed in the Tokuma catalog,
according to the Committee, was Noboru Fuji's Rockefeller vs. Rothschild, a
book that claims "Rothschild business interests orchestrated the Tiananmen
Massacre in June 1989." 
     Although Roth or other Disney representatives have so far not replied
to the Committee's plea to dissociate itself from Tokuma, Roth reportedly
canceled a trip to Tokyo to attend the press conference announcing the
deal, under which Buena Vista Home Entertainment will distribute eight
films of leading Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki worldwide, exclusive of
Asia.
   Will Princess Diana do her bit for Chinese-British relations, as the
Chinese government no doubt fervently hopes? Or will the unsavory past of
her future Japanese employer make her decide that the public relations risk
is not worth the diplomatic gain? Too bad Benjamin Disraeli, Queen
Victoria's favorite prime minister and Victorian England's most prominent
Jew, is not around to advise her. Meanwhile, representatives of both sides
are reportedly deep in negotiations. Will Diana get gross points? Her own
dressing room? Her name above the title? Stay tuned.  

----------
> From: Janine Hansen <jhansen at zedat.fu-berlin.de>
> To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> Subject: Opium War
> Date: Friday, December 12, 1997 5:19 PM
> 
> Hello,
> 
> could anybody tell me how to get a copy of AHEN SENSO (Opium War, 1943,
> dir. Makino Masahiro)? And has anything been written on this particular
> film?
> 
> The reason for my query is a request I got from one of the big museums
> here in Berlin: The museum (Deutsches Historisches Museum) is planning
> an exhibition on Tsingtau from the Opium war in 1842 to WW I. Along with
> the exhibition -- which is going to take place in spring 1998 -- they
> will show a selection of films. They would like to present AHEN SENSO in
> comparison with Chinese films on the same topic and have unsuccessfully
> tried to get hold of a copy.
> 
> Thanks for your help!
> 
> Janine Hansen