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15. Mulan Joins the Army, 1939
When Mulan Joins the Army premiered in Shanghai in February, 1939, it was an immediate commercial and critical success. In the film, Mulan enters the army in accordance with her legend, and during training exhibits skills in physical combat superior to her male colleagues. Upon arrival at the front, she encounters timid military leaders, in some cases willing to collaborate with the enemy rather than face the dangers of combat. The same timidity appears in several civilian authorities. Mulan spies on the enemy, nomadic tribes in the film, and learns of an impending attack. The generals in command disregard her warnings and when the attack is launched their response is ineffectual, in some cases cowardly.
Mulan takes command following the death of the male commander, kills his assistant who counseled collaboration, and leads an attack which routs the nomads. Afterward, in accordance with the legend known to the audience, she turns down a government position and marries her companion in the army, who was unaware of her being a woman. She then assumes the role of a dutiful wife and mother. The Mulan of the film is no longer the gentle woman inspired with filial devotion. She is instead portrayed as more masculine, able to outperform men in the martial arts, including hand-to-hand combat. She also demonstrates greater courage during the emergency of war, though after victory she returns to the ideals of Chinese womanhood of the time.