Mulan Will Burn Your Cottage to the Ground

Writing for British newspaper the Guardian, Alex von Tunzelmann (who looks seriously ticked off in her picture) takes a hammer to the historical accuracy found - or rather not found - in Disney's 1998 animated film, Mulan.

The film Mulan is based on the sixth century Chinese poem The Ballad of Mulan, which I haven't read and I bet you haven't read, either. I'm waiting for the Chang's Notes.

Alex has read the poem and lost patience with Disney's (wise) decision to deviate from the precise specifics of the ballad so as to appeal to a young audience blissfully unfamiliar with the culure of ancient China.

Alex does make a valid point that, in the film, Hun-like warriors invade China and that the actual Huns likely couldn't find China (or Cathay, back then) on a map let alone launch an invasion. But they make great bad guys. Thus, they're in the movie. Ditto the talking dragon. If modern America can have a talking gecko, ancient China can have a talking dragon.

By the end of her article, Alex begins to show a bit of welcome feminism and a definite bit of warmth toward Mulan, whom she considers a 'clear improvement on the standard-issue drippy princess' mostly because Mulan would burn the Seven Dwarves' cottage to the ground rather than tidy it up.

Now I understand why Alex von Tunzelmann looks seriously ticked off. Someone at the Guardian must have asked her to tidy up the place a bit.