Eventually we settled on a mutual favourite which came out in 2010 and has already been proclaimed by many as a modern classic retelling of an ancient story of the transformative effect that education can have in improving the quality of government and the vibrancy of civil society.
I am of course referring to Confucius - a Chinese cinema industry epic from 2010. It is a powerful dramatisation of the extraordinary life of a bueraucrat of modest birth who in turn came to be celebrated as a philosopher, human rights champion, legislator, minister, war strategist and peace campaigner!
You can read review of the film at Amazon but just briefly it stars Chow Yun Fat in the title role and covers his ascent from being a local Mayor to Minister of Law and then military commander in the first half of the film.
It's the second half of the epic that really grips you however - although he delivers stunning military and diplomatic coups for his state, Confucius is toppled by jealous politicans (although some historians argue he was disenchanted with power and engineered an excuse for an exit) and chooses to put himself into long term exile.
He wanders across the face of China, with a devoted band of disciples for his teaching and philosophy, seeking to enlighten the warlords and nobles of the various Chinese Kingdoms and Dukedoms (a rough tanslation).
He chooses a road of hardship rather than the offer of an easy life at court in neighbouring kingdoms and although in his own lifetime he is repeatedly frustrated in his efforts to secure peace and principled government by the warlords, his teachings about the importance of education, family values and the need for the rule of law and human rights had a profound effect on Chinese society in the centuries to come.
It is fascinating that when the prospect of a return to his homeland which has been engulfed in war and civil strife is offered on a plate by his humbled political rival who as Prime Minister had conspired to secure Confucius downfall, the philosopher agrees to return on the condition that it is as an educator not a statesman.
He is said to have spent his remaining years organising his band of followers into an organised network that spread out across China to improve the quality of education and governance.
He is an inspirational figure, and the film is a powerful testament to his life and achievements which I would recommend you rent or buy if you see it.
Search Amazon.com DVD for confucius
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