SILK ROAD
A film review by Thomas E. Billings
Copyright 1992 Thomas E. Billings
Synopsis: Set in China during the Sung dynasty (11th Century), the film depicts the adventures of a young scholar who gets drafted to fight in several battles. The ultimate goal of the film is to provide a (fictional) explanation for an archeological mystery: the discovery of a large library of 11th century scrolls, found in Dun-Huang in 1899. A historical drama set in China, that is similar in style to a Japanese samurai story. Not as good as most Chinese "art" films; not recommended.
Japan/China (English subtitles), color, 1991, 120 minutes. Director: Junya Sato. Based on a novel by Yasushi Inoue.
Because this new film has the same name as another recent program, it is appropriate that I clarify the situation. In 1980 (date approximate), NHK, the Japanese television firm, broadcast a documentary called "Silk Road." The "Silk Road" documentary is probably best known in the United States for its soundtrack by Kitaro, a (very) popular Japanese "New Age" musician. I mention this because I want readers to be fully aware that the film SILK ROAD is new and different; it is not the documentary, and the soundtrack is not by Kitaro. (As a side note, I would mention to fans of Kitaro that the "Silk Road" documentary is now available on videotape in the U.S.; I believe Time-Life is the U.S. distributor.)
The story centers on a young scholar, Zhao Xingde, and is set in China during the Sung dynasty; most of the action occurs in the years 1026 and 1028. The film begins with the young scholar being questioned by elder scholars. He fails the exam because he does not know much about Xixia, a nearby country. Shortly afterward he joins with two other young scholars, and leaves for Dun-Huang, the crossroads city on the "silk road," the overland route between China and the Mideast and Europe. (Dun-Huang is in northwestern China.) His caravan is captured by soldiers, and Zhao and his friends find themselves immediately drafted into the Chinese unit of the Xixian army!
Their unit is later involved in a few battles, and they eventually find themselves at the gates of the capital city of Uighur (another country). Zhao goes ahead to scout the city, and discovers the daughter of the king of Uighur. He hides her and tries to protect her. A few days later he leaves the city, under orders to go to another city, and smuggles the princess out of the city. The story continues as they get lost in the desert...
I was somewhat disappointed by this film, for reasons that will be discussed shortly. First, you should know that although the film is a (fictitious) historical drama set in China, it is very much a Japanese film. The director, most actors, writer, and some of the production staff, are Japanese. Except for a brief narration at the beginning and ending of the film (the narration is in English), all dialog in the film is in Japanese. The film has subtitles, in English only (no Chinese subtitles in the version I saw). The film was co-produced by a number of Chinese organizations, including the Chinese Army.
Now, in saying it is a Japanese film, I am really referring more to its style, tone, and pacing rather than the ethnic origin of its cast or production crew. In these matters, the film is very similar to a Japanese feudal period or samurai film, except it happens to be set in ancient China instead of feudal Japan. I happen to enjoy both Japanese historical dramas and Chinese historical dramas. However, I found watching a Chinese drama, done in the style of a Japanese drama, to be somewhat incongruous.
The film has more problems than simply a style that differed from my expectations. First, the film provides very little character development and then quickly jumps to action (battle scenes). As an example, the film begins with a short scene of Zhao being questioned. A few scenes later, he is in the desert, and his caravan is being attacked by soldiers. The 2 or 3 minutes between introducing the character and the first battle does not provide time to get involved in or care about what happens to the character. This same problem appears later in the film when the Uighuri princess quickly falls in love with Zhao. Of course he helps her, but why does she fall in love with him, other than the script calling for love at first sight?
Next, the editing is rather abrupt at times, making the film hard to follow. I had the impression that the film was edited down from a much longer film -- a TV miniseries perhaps? (Note that this is pure conjecture on my part). The battle scenes often involved large numbers of men on horseback in the dry and very dusty desert. These epic battle scenes often turned into large clouds of dust! Also, the camera would scan to show the huge cast assembled for the battle scenes. Unfortunately, these scenes were often out of focus in the film print I viewed.
Because of the film's technical flaws and poor story development, I would not recommend it to a general audience, and would recommend that fans of Chinese historical dramas avoid it. I also wouldn't recommend it to fans of Japanese historical dramas, as there are many excellent Japanese historical films available on video.
U.S. Distribution: presently in its first U.S. theatrical release. The film opens in San Francisco at the AMC Kabuki Theater on Friday, 31 January, 1992. The U.S. distributor is Trimark Pictures.
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