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Human rights in China
ChinaPolitics

Chinese hit film Article 20 is ‘a fairy tale’ about the right to self-defence, legal experts say

  • Top filmmaker Zhang Yimou’s new movie about justifiable defence filled mainland cinemas over Lunar New Year
  • The drama, co-produced by China’s top prosecution agency, strays from reality of legal system that prioritises social stability over individual rights, lawyers say

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Zhang Yimou’s new hit movie, which explores the controversial issue of the right to self-defence in China, stands in sharp contrast to the country’s legal realities, according to experts. Photo: IMBD
Phoebe ZhangandSylvie Zhuangin Beijing
A new Chinese film by multi-award winning director Zhang Yimou swept the Chinese box office over the Lunar New Year, earning 1.34 billion yuan (US$186 million) over eight days, according to the China Film Administration.
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But unlike the comedy or romance films that usually dominate the holiday period, the legal drama Article 20 (Di Er Shi Tiao) explores a controversial issue – the right to self-defence.

The film, co-produced by China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP), follows two prosecutors – Han Ming and Lu Lingling – who find themselves working relentlessly to clear villager Wang Yongqiang of charges in the killing of another villager who had bullied him for months and repeatedly raped his wife.

As the story unfolds, the two prosecutors race to collect evidence, redefining the case as a right to self-defence.

In a scene near the end of the movie, Han delivers a passionate speech in defence of the suspect.

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