THE EMPRESS WU TSE-TIEN

Cinemavixion Review

In the annals of Chinese history, few figures loom as large or as controversially as Wu Zetian, the nation's sole female emperor. The 1939 Chinese historical drama, "The Empress Wu Tse-tien," directed by Fang Peilin, offers a cinematic glimpse into the life of this formidable ruler. Starring Gu Lanjun in the titular role, the film, according to external data, runs for approximately 95 minutes and is noted for its biographical approach to Wu Zetian's ascent to power, a journey marked by ambition and ruthlessness from her beginnings as an emperor's concubine to her fifteen-year reign. While the film's reception and awards are not extensively documented, its existence highlights an early effort to bring this pivotal historical figure to the screen, making it a noteworthy piece for students of Chinese cinema and history alike.