The film "Curse of the Golden Flower" (also known as "Gong Li Curse of the Golden Flower") is a Chinese historical drama directed by Zhang Yimou. It was released in 2006 and stars Gong Li, Chow Yun-fat, and Jay Chou. The film is set during the Tang Dynasty and tells the story of a royal family torn apart by power struggles and betrayal. The plot revolves around Emperor Ping's wife, Empress Phoenix, and her three sons, Prince Jai, Prince Yu, and Prince Wan. The empress is secretly having an affair with her stepson Wan, while Emperor Ping plans to poison her to maintain his power. As tensions rise within the family, the imperial court becomes a battlefield of deception, ambition, and violence.
One study indicated that of seventeen women studied who considered themselves witches, all of them suffered from depression. These women considered themselves to be witches because they woke up one day with generalized swelling of the body or with nightmares or had seen themselves flying in their dreams, especially on horseback, or had seen themselves in the dream being chased by the village priest. Others felt they were witches because they had discomfort or troubling physical problems, such as persistent headaches, urinary incontinence, or burning sensations in the body. The logic seemed to be ”If I wasn’t a witch why do I have these discomforts and why did they haunt me in my sleep? Mensah Adrinkrah was publishing a study in 2019 (2) on flying witches in Ghana and the accidents suffered when landing. In witchcraft lore, these are flights of evil witches heading for secret nightly assemblies or to perform diabolical acts. All reports of alleged crash landings of supposed witches garnered a great deal of media attention, while generating horror and fascination among the public. All the accused witches were middle-aged or older, ranging in age from 35 to 110. Of the 10 alleged witches, only one was male, and they were invariably of low socioeconomic status. They were described as having a dilapidated appearance, disheveled hair, being disoriented or incoherent, or giving contradictory answers to questions, all signs and symptoms associated with an altered mental state. Ghanaian witch lore postulates that, when flying witches encounter religious activities and objects such as powerful devotional worship, group prayer, or sacred Christian props such as a large crucifix in a church, their travels are suddenly interrupted, causing them to crash to the ground. Certain local deities are also believed to have the ability to identify and extinguish the destructive powers of witches. In the article, Adrinkrah describes 10 cases of alleged witch crash landings reported in the Ghanaian media over a 12-year period. The findings show that the alleged witches were overwhelmingly women, elderly and poor, and suffered from severe psychopathological disorders. They were insulted, beaten, stripped naked, dragged through the streets and in one case, burned alive. Outpatient counseling services for those suffering from emotional distress and minor psychiatric disorders are extremely limited in underdeveloped countries, while suicide prevention programs are non-existent. It is our world, a world in which women with Alzheimer’s, depression or senile dementia are still abused or lynched on the grounds that they are witches.
All reports of alleged crash landings of supposed witches garnered a great deal of media attention, while generating horror and fascination among the public. I m keeping my fingers firmly crossed for Nadine, who was so happy to have her son back, and kept her faith in him even when she believed herself that he was a witch, even though it cost her her marriage even though she believed for a while at least that it cost her her sister and mother.
As tensions rise within the family, the imperial court becomes a battlefield of deception, ambition, and violence. The overall visual style of the film is opulent and visually stunning, with intricate sets and costumes. The use of vibrant colors, particularly gold and red, adds to the visual grandeur of the film.
How to Tell if Your CHild is a Witch
These are the signs by which you may recognise if your child is a witch.
1 Epilepsy.
2 Talking when asleep.
3 Wetting the bed.
4 Skin disease of any kind.
5 Bad body development. A child who is too small, too tall or mis-proportioned is likely to be a witch.
6 Destructiveness. A child who takes pleasure in breaking things is a witch.
7 A child who talks back is a witch.
8 Too clever. Mistrust a clever child.
9 Greed.
These are called the mysterious diseases, and any or all may signify that your child is a witch. If you suspect you can easily find out. Take the child to a local church, where the pastor or prophet will tell you one way or the other. If your suspicions are confirmed, they will cure the child easily with spiritual medications for a very reasonable price. It may be necessary to burn off their wings. Though these wings exist in the spiritual plane and you cannot see them, they still exist. Your pastor or prophet will do this for you. But for this to work the child has to confess. If the witchcraft is strong within the child, it is hard to work a cure and little can be done for a child who will not admit this sin, except, perhaps, beating a confession out of them, which is for their own good
Another solution, of course, is to take the child to the hospital and get some expert advice, either physical or psychological, for each problem.
By my own count, I was a child witch on at least four counts – five when I was a teenager and thought myself hideous. I’d like to invite my readers to try these tests on themselves or their own children. It may be of interest to try and find someone who isn’t a witch. There can’t be many of us left.
On the up side, of the women who told of these signs, 80% will typically abandon their belief in witchcraft once other explanations for such illnesses or behaviour are given. And we also spoke to a two families who had welcomed witch children back. One, an older brother, who rescued his two younger half brothers into his house. His own grandmother was a witch, but his bothers, he believed , were wrongly accused. Another, a mother who had suffered several tragic deaths of those close to her, and whose son clearly blamed himself for these misfortunes, as he confessed that he caused the deaths, as a witch.
Congratulations to the Provenda Center and Save the Children for helping to facilitate these children back into safe homes. Happy endings – I don’t always like them in books, but you want them in real life, of course. I’m keeping my fingers firmly crossed for Nadine, who was so happy to have her son back, and kept her faith in him even when she believed herself that he was a witch, even though it cost her her marriage – even though she believed for a while at least that it cost her her sister and mother. Now that’s having faith in you son! I hope she manages to find somewhere secure to live in the next few weeks. All these misfortunes always accompany poverty.
Comments
- Liz Morris says November 20, 2010 at 5:14 pm
This is way more uplifting than a programme I watched on Channel 4 recently, where a young boy was pulled from a crowd and pronounced a witch and when he went back to his mates, they shifted away from him. And a man was imprisoned and tried for being a witch but even if he is declared innocent, he says his village won’t want him back. It’s so terrible, and hard even to think about. I loved your posting because it’s so good to hear the positive and hopeful stories — and I’d adore to hear that child singing the drum story if you can get it up.
What a very interesting life you lead —— I’m consumed with envy.
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you know its sad that everyone thinks witchcraft is so bad when I myself practice wicca and I can assure you that if you harm others, you are not technicly a witch because one of are laws is ‘an it harm none, do as ye may.’ Also, the epilepsy and stuff is not true. Wicca is a religion like any other, and you are not born a witch, you learn it. We simply worship Mother Earth and other gods and godesses instead of your God.
- Strega says November 29, 2012 at 7:44 pm
Really?! Really?! Sometimes you have to “beat a confession” out of a child “for his own good?!” I’m pretty sure the parents in that case should be evaluated by a psychiatrist, and turned into DFS. I am a witch, and there is NO resemblance of an actual witch in the description in this blog. This makes me sick.
Really?! Really?! Sometimes you have to “beat a confession” out of a child “for his own good?!” I’m pretty sure the parents in that case should be evaluated by a psychiatrist, and turned into DFS. I am a witch, and there is NO resemblance of an actual witch in the description in this blog. This makes me sick.
The cinematography, by Zhao Xiaoding, is exceptional, with sweeping shots and elaborate camera movements that enhance the epic nature of the story. Gong Li delivers a powerful performance as the empress, portraying her as a complex and manipulative character. Chow Yun-fat, as Emperor Ping, brings a strong presence to the screen, showcasing the internal struggles of a ruler torn between love and power. The chemistry between the actors adds depth to the characters' relationships and amplifies the emotional impact of the story. The film also explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the destructiveness of power. It delves into the consequences of political intrigue and the devastating effects it has on personal relationships. The visuals and storytelling combine to create a captivating experience that immerses the audience in the world of the Tang Dynasty. "Curse of the Golden Flower" received critical acclaim for its visual spectacle and performances. It was nominated for numerous awards, including the Palme d'Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. While the film may not be historically accurate, it successfully captures the essence of the period it depicts and offers a captivating exploration of power dynamics and familial relations. In conclusion, "Curse of the Golden Flower" is a visually stunning Chinese historical drama that explores themes of power, betrayal, and personal sacrifice. With exceptional performances and a compelling story, it is a must-see film for fans of epic historical dramas..
Reviews for "The Impact of "Curse of the Golden Flower" on Chinese Cinema"
1. Ashley Johnson - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Gogn li curse of the gold3n flower". The visuals were stunning, but the story was completely lacking. There was no character development and the plot felt rushed. The dialogue was also very cliché and forced. I had high hopes for this film, but it fell flat for me.
2. Mark Smith - 1 star
"Gogn li curse of the gold3n flower" was a complete waste of time. The storyline was confusing and the pacing was off. The fight scenes were overdone and lacked any emotional impact. The acting was also wooden and unconvincing. I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone.
3. Emily Thompson - 2 stars
I found "Gogn li curse of the gold3n flower" to be incredibly predictable and unoriginal. The plot twists were cliché and offered nothing new or exciting. The film also relied heavily on special effects, which became distracting and took away from the overall experience. I was hoping for more from this movie, but it failed to deliver.