Trailer
Plot summary
In China during the Spring and Autumn Period, Kong Qiu lives in the state of Lu as a commoner known for his wisdom. In his early fifties he is promoted from mayor to Minister of Law in Lu. He keeps a slave boy from being buried alive with a master who has died, an act that raises ethical questions for him. Lu rises under his leadership, and the warlike state of Qi becomes a threat to it.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Confucius (2010)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- When Confucius opened in China, the Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily speculated that authorities were clearing Avatar's 2-D cinema slots to benefit it, partly to avoid attention on the forced evictions of Chinese homes. The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television called it a commercial decision, but the Chinese government reversed course when Confucius drew low attendance.
- In December 2009, a claimed direct descendant of Confucius, Kong Jian, sued the filmmakers after seeing the trailer, demanding that scenes be cut because they suggested the philosopher was romantically attracted to the concubine Nanzi.
- When Chow Yun-fat was cast as Confucius, many in China worried that the Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong star lacked the Mandarin for the role and that the action veteran would turn the philosopher into a "kung-fu hero"; mainland star Pu Cunxin then criticised Hu Mei's script as too full of action and romance.
- Confucius opened on more than 2,500 screens across China on its opening weekend, setting a national record for the largest number of screenings.
- Faye Wong, a Buddhist, sang the theme song "Solitary Orchid", which is based on an ancient work by Han Yu; she said she recorded it "for Confucius" because his writings still provide the answers to modern questions.
