The Asian Antigone- Annette

My Asian "Antigone" would be set in dynastic China because of the political schism that divided the country into 3 kingdoms. I also think it would be interesting because society was primarily male dominated like in most Asian cultures and I think the recalcitrance of Antigone would be of stark contrast to the contextual setting. I'd like to think of her as the alter-ego Hua Mulan, (the legendary female warrior of Chinese folklore made famous by the Disney adaptation). Hua Mulan took her fathers place in the war and fought valiantly for 12 years, her morality prevented her from ever receiving special rewards and after her duty was done she retired to a quiet life in the countryside as many women in her era would have, instead of being celebrated like men or like Mulan in Walt Disney's version. She was born into a middle class household however Antigone, is a princess. Antigone like Mulan shall be valiant and have a strong sense of morality but I think she'd approach her objectives more stealthily than the Greek Antigone and instead of using physical strength like Mulan, Antigone would use her mind, her charm and her influence rather than sacrifice herself. As a princess, living within the forbidden city she would employ her ladies in waiting or even hire Chinese ninja's (they did exist) as her link to the outside world. Any deeds would be carried out by them and so Antigone would be the mastermind not the laborer. This Antigone would speak poetically, in riddles which in the Chinese context adds to her charm but more importantly, shows her status and her education. Her charm is also important as it makes up for her recalcitrant ways and sometimes saves her from being punished.
Many Chinese emperors are notorious for their cruelty but also their extremely lavish lifestyles. Like Creon this Chinese emperor would expect respect rather than earn it, as well as instill it through fear rather than purely good deeds. To better fit with the theme of many Chinese historical movies however, the emperor himself would be the one contemplating marriage with his niece- perhaps due to the lack of a male heir. Perhaps this would add on to the Chinese Antigone's motivation to act against her uncle/ prospective husbands wishes out of spite, contempt and in her need to fulfill familial duties. Many films on dynastic China however are tragedies, most probably due to its downfall and the emergence of modern civil war and the notion of democracy. Therefore to heighten the tragedy, I would not only have Antigone die at the mercy of her callous uncle, I would even weave suspicion of the Uncle's involvement in the parents demise. Supposedly next in line to the throne, the uncle must have been enraged when a "valiant young prince" from another kingdom claimed the throne and even married Jocasta who would have been passed on to the uncle as his first wife! "Oedipus" hit two birds with one stone- leading to his gradual death. Perhaps he even tormented the couple before their deaths instead of having them commit suicide (suicide banishes people to hell, preventing reincarnation or at- one-ment with the Buddha. Because of all these bad deeds, the (uncle) emperor's reign will be short lived. Perhaps Antigone had a beau from another kingdom who comes to avenge her death, reenacting the battle of Thebes where this time the invaders win and the emperor is removed from his ill-fated reign at last.

The movie ends in blood-shed and tears, "Haemon" is left spouse-less and flashbacks of their time together plays on screen whilst nostalgic music fills the cinema.

Isn't this how they all end? I think it's important in a movie to build on pathos so there is a new level of understanding between the audience and the characters. Sure the movie may seem to be a story of star crossed lovers, revenge and redemption but also a montage of the modern woman, smart, cunning -maybe repressed all the same who is willing to sacrifice to make herself and her cause heard.