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The Eight Hundred

Name: The Eight Hundred
Director: Guan Hu
Released: 2020
Duration: 147 min

Representation Score

3.7/10

Limited

2020

Not Rated

Director

Guan Hu

Runtime

147 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

This film is a traditional historical epic that emphasizes national unity and masculine military archetypes. It excels in offering a post-colonial perspective by framing the conflict as a direct resistance against foreign aggression. However, its narrative structure remains conventional, focusing on established hierarchies. The emphasis on a unified national front overlooks the complexities of multi-layered or progressive social issues. Ultimately, the film serves as an exploration of collective identity and the psychological impact of siege warfare, prioritizing institutional stability over individual character development.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Eight Hundred have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses solely on the bonds between soldiers and the experiences of civilians during the siege. It does not include any non-straight or non-cisgender identities or hints at queer themes.

How does The Eight Hundred portray gender?

Limited

The story revolves around masculine ideals of combat and sacrifice. Women appear in supporting roles such as journalists, but they play secondary roles that support traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Eight Hundred?

Good

The narrative highlights the Chinese resistance against foreign imperialism. It successfully deconstructs power dynamics by emphasizing the ability to act of a threatened population.

How does The Eight Hundred represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film's moral framework is driven by strong nationalist sentiments and patriotism. It stresses duty to the state and national unity through a traditionalist viewpoint.

Does The Eight Hundred include disability representation?

Minimal

Physical injuries are used as a narrative device to emphasize the harsh realities of war. They serve as plot catalysts rather than exploring the nuances of disability.

Present on Screen

Offers a powerful post-colonial perspective on resisting foreign aggression.
Highlights the ability to act of a colonized population against an invading force.
Provides a cohesive narrative about the Chinese experience in wartime.

Limited or Absent

Overlooks diverse social identities by emphasizing masculine military archetypes.
Women's roles reinforce traditional gender hierarchies.
Injuries are used primarily as plot devices rather than nuanced representations of disability.

Official Synopsis

In 1937, eight hundred Chinese soldiers fight under siege from a warehouse in the middle of the Shanghai battlefield, completely surrounded by the Japanese army.

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