Syrian People Mad as Jackie Chan is Shooting a Movie In a Devastated Town

A Chinese action film executive-produced by Jackie Chan has triggered outrage after shooting scenes in al-Hajar al-Aswad, a Syrian town destroyed in the civil war.

Home Operation, directed by Song Yinxi, is inspired by China’s evacuation of hundreds of its nationals from Yemen in 2015 during the civil conflict there, and is the first joint venture between Chinese and Emirati producers. AFP reported that Song said the film was intended to glorify the Chinese Communist party (CCP): “It takes the perspective of diplomats who are Communist party members, who braved a hail of bullets in a war-torn country and safely brought all Chinese compatriots on to the country’s warship unscathed.”

Photographs from the film’s set show Chinese crew and actors working among shattered and derelict buildings, a tank, and local extras wearing Yemeni-style clothing. Feng Biao, China’s ambassador to Syria, appeared at a ceremony to launch the shoot.