SESSION 123, ILLEGAL _CINEMA

Screening of The Empress of China (2014) by Yik Chun Go, followed by a discussion. Session proposed by Alejandra Bustillo.

After the serpent urged Eve to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree, God punished her saying: “I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” According to Genesis, this is the birth of the heteropatriarchy.

Wu Zetian was born in the year 624. At the age of 12 she became a concubine of the Emperor. Over time, everyone who had to die for her to become Empress did so under mysterious circumstances, making her the first woman to rule China. First, she chose her concubines. Next, she created public offices in order to break down class barriers. Finally, she introduced free education for both men and women.

In 2014, Fan Bingbing produced and starred in the series on Wu Zetian’s life directed by Yik Chun Go. In 2017, Fan disappeared from public life. Four months later she reappeared asking forgiveness from the Chinese regime, and the series changed. Necklines were raised and the role of women was diminished.

Alejandra Bustillo (Burgos, 1991). She studied Art in Leioa and has since devoted herself to surviving the dizzying imbalance between dolce far niente and turbocapitalism. Cinema helps.