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The Great Magician

Name: The Great Magician
Director: Derek Yee Tung-Sing
Released: 2011
Duration: 128 min

Representation Score

2.8/10

Limited

2011

Not Rated

Director

Derek Yee Tung-Sing

Runtime

128 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film is a period mystery that excels at recreating the atmosphere of 1930s Shanghai. It successfully centers a localized Chinese perspective, avoiding Westernized casting clichés by grounding the story in the socio-political climate of the time. However, the narrative relies heavily on traditional storytelling frameworks. It prioritizes classical romantic and conventional gender dynamics, which limits its exploration of social hierarchies. Ultimately, the film operates as a character-driven tragedy. While culturally specific, it adheres to traditional romantic and masculine archetypes.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Great Magician have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on a traditional romantic tragedy between Chan and Ling. It does not depict any non-cisgender identities or same-sex relationships.

How does The Great Magician portray gender?

Fair

Ling, a central character, often finds her role constrained by societal pressures. The narrative emphasizes traditional masculine roles through the male protagonist's journey.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Great Magician?

Good

The film features a predominantly Chinese cast set in 1930s Shanghai. It avoids Western-centric casting by focusing on a localized perspective of post-Revolutionary China.

How does The Great Magician represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story delves into the tension between social classes and warlordism. It highlights individual morality and historical instability without critiquing institutions systematically.

Does The Great Magician include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities. Such traits do not serve as central narrative elements or character arcs.

Present on Screen

Strong regional identity through a predominantly Chinese cast.
Authentic historical setting within 1930s Shanghai.
Avoids Western-centric casting in favor of a localized perspective.

Limited or Absent

Reliance on traditional romantic structures.
Limited female influence within the established gender hierarchy.
No representation of non-cisgender identities or disabilities.

Official Synopsis

In the years after the Revolution, China broken up into fiefdoms held by warlords, who are busy fighting each other. One warlord has imprisoned a girl and wants her to be his seventh wife, but he's too honorable to force her. The local revolutionaries wants to kill him and bring back the republic. But when a stranger returns from abroad with mastery of magic to recover the girl he loved, who is tricking whom and who will win at the end?

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