On paper, a live-action remake of “Mulan” would have made a great film and a significant insight into Chinese culture. It could have been massively popular, particularly amongst Chinese audiences, and it could have perhaps made a lot of money for Disney and Hollywood. With the way Disney seems to have been recreating many of their classic animated films as live-action, it seemed like a logical step.
The hashtag was only the beginning of the negative press that Mulan will suffer. With #BoycottMulan trending steadily into 2020, the film’s release sparked a further uproar. It was revealed that Disney had filmed Mulan in East Turkestan (Xinjiang province), where China is alleged to be keeping over a million Uighur Muslims captive in re-education camps. The film also directly acknowledges and thanks to the Turpan Security Bureau, which itself has been accused of playing a significant role in the ongoing internment of Uighurs in Turkestan, or as the Mulan Credits say, “North-Western China”.
To activists, the release of Mulan marks the latest example of Hollywood’s hypocrisy regarding human rights, and how corporations are willing to sacrifice moral values in return for business.
“In L.A., there’s a focus on freedom of expression… Then we cross borders, and the democracy struggle in Hong Kong is erased, as are the human rights abuses”
– University of Virginia media studies professor Aynee Kokas, author of the book “Hollywood Made in China.”
Ironically, even Disney’s pandering to China has not even boosted their profits. Following the eruption of controversy regarding the films links with East Turkestan, Chinese authorities have banned media coverage of the film. This decision is sure to critically hurt the Chinese box office for Disney, particularly since the film already had cost $200 million to produce.
With Mulan only grossing 64 million USD, it is evident that the movie is a commercial failure. Critics are divided as to the merits of the plot itself and has received diverse reviews. It is unclear then, what the primary source of the movie’s failure really is. It could even be down to the fact that there is a global pandemic on which has shut many cinemas. But it is undeniable that the controversial filming location and boycotting contributed to its flop at the box office. This film serves as a note to the rest of Hollywood, pandering and compromising values does not make for a hit movie.
