In 500 B.C., during Chinas famed 'Spring and Autumn Period', Kong Ze (Confucius), a commoner reverred for his outstanding wisdom, is made Minister of Law in the ancient Kingdom of Lu. Under his inspired leadership, Lu ascends to new heights but becomes a target of conquest for the warlike nation of Qi. Threatened with annihilation by their powerful neighbour, a desperate people turn to their greatest teacher to lead their most powerful army. When Confucius delivers a stunning victory against all odds, a jealous aristocracy sets out to destroy him, but they should never under-estimate a remarkable man whose wisdom is more powerful than the sword.
Acting
Chow Yun-Fat's gravitas carries uneven material.
Production
Massive battle sequences and period detail on real locations.
Direction
Hu Mei's ambitious vision outpaces the script's coherence.
Director
Hu Mei
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released for Confucius's 2560th birthday, the film was state-backed propaganda competing with Avatar's record-breaking Chinese run — and lost badly.
Chow Yun-Fat reportedly struggled with classical Chinese dialogue, requiring extensive coaching — ironic for cinema's most eloquent philosopher.
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