Last week saw the release of Disney's latest live action remake with Mulan, which is now screening at cinemas across the UAE.
In a first for a major Disney blockbuster, the film has been made available on streaming service Disney+ at the same time as its global cinematic release, owing to many cinemas in major markets still being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The film is one of Disney’s most eagerly anticipated live-action remakes, and is set to be one of 2020’s biggest blockbusters.
The story of Mulan was made popular in the late 1990s thanks to Disney’s animated version, which featured the voice work of Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, Miguel Ferrer and BD Wong in the English version, while Jackie Chan provided the voice of Captain Li Shang for the Chinese dubs of the film.
The film tells the story of a young woman who enlists in the Chinese army to protect her ailing father, hiding her true identity from her fellow soldiers by pretending to be a man.
Unlike in the Disney version of the story, in the 'Ballad of Mulan', it is only after she returns home to her family that her fellow soldiers learn of her true identity as a woman
While Disney may have introduced a generation to the much-loved character – and is about to do so all over again – the legend of Mulan has been told for centuries.
Where does the legend of Mulan come from?
The tale of Mulan can be traced back to the Northern Wei Dynasty during the period between 386 to 535 AD. The first written record of the warrior can be found in a Chinese folk song, recorded in a book of ballads. Mulan, meaning ‘magnolia flower’ in Chinese, was one of 392 Chinese characters to feature in the book.
During this period, it was common for the northern region of Han China to be frequently invaded by the Hun (Xiongnu) people along the northern border. Most of the battles took place between the Black Mountain and Mount Yanran.
"Based on Chinese historical documents, a real war happened between the Northern Wei state and a Mongolic state called Rouran," tourism provider China Highlights states. "In 429, the emperor (khan) of Northern Wei led an army to fight Rouran, which according to the Ballad of Mulan lasted 12 years."
The folktale says Mulan remained a warrior within the army for the full 12 years of the war, excelling in her position thanks to sword skills and martial arts she had previously been taught. Unlike in the Disney version of the story, in the Ballad of Mulan, it is only after she returns home to her family, having turned down all offers of recognition for her role in the victory, that her fellow soldiers learn of her true identity as a woman.
According to China Highlights, the story began to gain traction in China centuries later during the Tang Dynasty, between 618 and 907 AD, when it was widely retold as a common folk story.
The tale was brought to life for the first time centuries later by playwright Xi Wei, who penned a play based on the folk story. The 16th century production, entitled The Heroine Mulan Goes to War in Her Father's Place, was acted in two parts, and was the first of many adaptations of the story in the centuries to follow, which have included books, plays, and of course Disney's latest blockbuster.
The legacy of Mulan
While there is no clear-cut answer as to whether Mulan was a real person or a fictional character, her influence on China and the world has been paramount. In China, Mulan has become a byword for heroines and her story is a household tale told to encourage girls to be brave.
In Hubei, generally accepted to be the home town of Mulan, there is a memorial statue dedicated to the warrior, which has long been a visitor draw for fans of the story.
When Disney’s original animated version of Mulan was released in 1998, it grossed $304 million (Dh1.1 billion) at the box office, and quickly won a place as one of its more popular films.
Early reviews of the 2020 live-action remake have been positive, however, given the times in which it is being released, it remains to be seen whether it will emulate the success of the original.
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The line up
Friday: Giggs, Sho Madjozi and Masego
Saturday: Nas, Lion Bbae, Roxanne Shante and DaniLeigh
Sole DXB runs from December 6 to 8 at Dubai Design District. Weekend pass is Dh295 while a one day pass is Dh195. Tickets are available from www.soledxb.com
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE%C2%A0SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.4-litre%20four-cylinder%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20210hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Starting%20from%20Dh89%2C900%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Boston%20Strangler
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Matt%20Ruskin%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKeira%20Knightley%2C%20Carrie%20Coon%2C%20Alessandro%20Nivola%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The Little Things
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
Four stars
