On the first day of the Lunar New Year in 2024, the movie " Article 20 " directed by Zhang Yimou was officially released. The film's title is taken from "Article 20" of the Criminal Law, and it tells the story of the justice and humanity behind the "justifiable defense" law.
According to the official blog of @ Movie Article 20, on February 13, the film has attracted more than 10 million viewers, and many indices have reversed their decline.
Netizen comments
The film refers to the Kunshan anti-murder case, Laiyuan anti-murder case, etc.
Real cases in reality
As the first domestic law-themed film focusing on the issue of "justifiable defense", what are the unique features of the movie "Article 20" ? What kind of breakthrough has been made in telling the story of the rule of law?
The film tells the story of Han Ming, a temporary prosecutor who has reached middle age and wants to give his career a final try, but unexpectedly gets involved in a hugely controversial case. He eliminates interference from all parties, adheres to the legal bottom line, applies the law accurately, and provides justice to the parties involved.
Zhang Tingting, producer of the Film and Television Center of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, said, "At the beginning of our creation, we wanted to carry forward the concept of 'the law cannot give in to the illegal', activate dormant legal provisions, stop illegal infringements, and promote justice and the spirit of courage."
Zhang Tingting revealed , the cases in the film refer to real-life cases such as the Kunshan anti-murder case, Fuzhou Zhao Yu case and Laiyuan anti-murder case. The film highly restores the prosecutors who handle cases in reality. They also have work pressure and daily trivial matters in life. The pressure of promotion in middle age and the pressure of children entering high school. Prosecutors also have the joys and sorrows of ordinary people. This is reflected in the film. All are presented realistically in a slightly humorous way.
Image source: Movie Article 20 Official WeChat
The Supreme People's Procuratorate published two film reviews in a row
html On February 11, the Supreme People's Procuratorate released a film review "Shirk and Responsibility" signed by Ji Bingxue (First Procuratorate of the Supreme People's Procuratorate). Thearticle stated that although the 1997 Criminal Law stipulated a relatively complete legitimate defense system, it was a "sleeping clause" for a considerable period of time. In 2018, the Kunshan anti-homicide case awakened the "sleeping clause" in the criminal law regarding legitimate defense. In recent years, judicial organs have handled a number of social cases in accordance with the law, such as the Zhao Yu case of bravery for justice, the anti-homicide case of Laiyuan, Hebei, and the Sheng Chunping case of Zhejiang. High-profile self-defense cases.
The issue of legitimate defense has aroused widespread concern in society, which actually reflects the people's higher demand for democracy, rule of law, fairness, justice, and security. The procuratorial organs responded to social concerns in a timely manner and actively promoted social righteousness. The rule of law spirit of "the law cannot give in to the law" gradually became deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and became the rule of law concept that prosecutors must follow when handling such cases.
Each case is heavy and seems to be quite helpless. Judiciary is the last line of defense for maintaining social fairness and justice. If it fails, the people may lose their support. Fortunately, it is precisely because a group of prosecutors and police officers such as Han Ming and Lu Lingling adhered to their original aspirations that justice was finally done and evil deeds were punished, making us feel hope in the midst of heavy and helpless situations.
html On February 12, the Supreme People's Procuratorate released a film review "The Law Is Not Cold Logic" signed by Liu Zhe, deputy director of the First Procuratorial Department and third-level senior prosecutor of the Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate. The author of thearticle stated that Article 20 refers to Article 20 of the Criminal Law, which is the provision of legitimate defense. This clause is so familiar yet so strange. We generally know the content, but how many of us truly understand its essential meaning and its heavy weight. When it hits people on the head, it is the fate of a person, or even the fate of a family, as well as the most precious things such as reputation, dignity, and freedom. It affects a person's sense of right and wrong and justice.
Why do we say that what we deal with is not cases, but other people's lives, because it is related to right and wrong, justice and people's hearts... Respect and understanding are two-way. Only the judiciary respects and believes in the law from the bottom of their hearts and follows the law. Only by handling cases and enforcing the law impartially without fear of all difficulties and dangers can the public believe in the law, believe in the law, and believe that the spirit of the rule of law can be realized with certainty. The law is not cold logic, the law is fairness and justice.
Luo Xiang Read "Article 20" to recall the original intention of popularizing the law
12, Luo Xiang, a professor at China University of Political Science and Law, read "Article 20" to recall the original intention of popularizing the law, which also attracted the attention of netizens.
Luo Xiang discussed the movie "Article 20" in the video, and also popularized science on how to understand legitimate defense in criminal law, and how ordinary people should deal with similar situations.
Luo Xiang said: "There are no rational people in the law, only ordinary people of flesh and blood. We are all imperfect ordinary people, so we must immerse ourselves in the defender's position and do not be too harsh on the defender."
Supreme People's Procuratorate Zhou Huiyong, deputy director of the First Procuratorate, also said that there is only a fine line between "legitimate defense" and "excessive defense" -
Source: China Youth Daily
