← Back to Directory
A Writer's Odyssey
Movie

A Writer's Odyssey

2021 • Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Woke Score
2
out of 10

Plot

A WRITER'S ODYSSEY tells the story of Kongwen Lu (Dong Zijian), the author of a fantasy novel series following a heroic teenager, also named Kongwen, on a quest to end the tyrannical rule of Lord Redmane, under the guidance of a Black Armor (Guo Jingfei). But through a strange twist of fate, the fantasy world of the novel begins to impact life in the real world, leading Guan Ning (Lei Jiayin) to accept a mission from Tu Ling (Yang Mi) to kill the author.

Overall Series Review

A Writer's Odyssey is a fantasy-action epic that splits its narrative between the real world and an imaginative novel. The primary plot is driven by Guan Ning, a devastated father who accepts a dangerous mission to assassinate a young author in exchange for information leading to his long-missing daughter, Tangerine. The central conflict pits a father's relentless, protective love against a powerful, corrupt tech conglomerate and its visionary male CEO. The story unfolds as the events in the author's fantasy novel, which features an adventure to overthrow a godlike tyrant named Lord Redmane, begin to directly influence the reality of the characters. The film focuses on themes of the power of imagination, the struggle against overwhelming power, and the unwavering bond of family. There is no political lecturing on identity or social hierarchy; character merit and the fight to save a child are the only motivations. The action is visually aggressive and spectacle-driven, utilizing Chinese mythic fantasy tropes to tell a story of virtue battling corruption.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics1/10

Characters are judged by their actions and determination, not by immutable characteristics. The protagonist's merit is defined by his determined search for his daughter and his acquired superpower. The cast is culturally authentic to the film's Chinese setting. No vilification of race or forced diversity is present.

Oikophobia1/10

The movie is a spectacle of Chinese-language cinema that celebrates unique national fantasy and cinematic culture. The central villain is a powerful corporate figure (and his tyrannical god-figure counterpart) representing corruption and unchecked power within the modern Chinese setting. The film critiques internal corruption rather than expressing self-hatred toward national culture or heritage.

Feminism2/10

The core of the narrative is centered on a male protagonist's selfless, protective fatherhood, which drives all plot movement and action. Motherhood and family are highly valued as the object of the quest. The powerful female executive, Tu Ling, is a formidable, capable character, but she works for the male villain and serves as an antagonist/morally complex figure, preventing a 'Girl Boss' narrative of moral perfection.

LGBTQ+1/10

The narrative is structurally normative, with the primary emotional drive focusing entirely on the traditional nuclear family bond between a father and his missing daughter. There is no presence of sexual identity being centered or any lecturing on gender theory.

Anti-Theism2/10

The conflict in the fantasy world involves overthrowing a tyrannical, godlike villain named Lord Redmane, which is a common trope of fantasy fiction. This villain also has a parallel in the 'real world' as a corrupt, manipulative tech billionaire. The narrative centers on a quest for justice and family, acknowledging an objective moral truth in fighting tyranny and rescuing the innocent, rather than promoting moral relativism or specifically attacking traditional faith.