Disney’s Mulan (1998) includes many details that have been based on real historical data, but many scenes featured in the movie included inaccuracies. One accurate plot point from the movie is Mulan fighting against the Huns. This is shown in the move when Mulan is training to fight the enemy (“Let’s get down to business to defeat the Huns”) In the ballad, it is also shown that she is fighting an enemy: “The Khan is calling many troops”. In addition, Mulan is said to have lived in the Southern and Northern Dynasties period (420–589) (Wikipedia, 2017). This is similar to the time when the Huns historically lived, which was between the 4th – 6th Century AD (Wikipedia, 2017). This detail is accurate, as the Huns lived at the same time as Mulan …show more content…
The accurately portrayed points include what men expected women to look like. This point is presented in a song: “Bring Honor to Us All” Some lyrics included in this song are: “With good fortune and a great hairdo”, “Like a lotus blossom soft and pale” and “Men want girls … with a tiny waist.” This accurately shows how men wanted women to present themselves, and can be proven by looking at original paintings from the Ancient Chinese period. An example of this is the painting Women Inspecting Silk (12th Century CE), which depicts women with pale skin, meticulous makeup and expensive clothes, details that match up with the Disney description. The ballad also shows that women wear makeup – “I … apply my bisque makeup by the mirror.” As well as being socially forced to look pretty, Ancient Chinese women were oppressed. The only women that weren’t disrespected were elderly women (that were held in a high regard) (Donn, N.D.). The movie doesn’t display this correctly, as very few people stop for Mulan’s Grandma when she crosses the street, showing insolence toward her. Grandma is not included in the ballad – making the movie inaccurate again. Overall, Disney’s Mulan is equally accurate and inaccurate in the way it shows the roles of