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Dragon, Hidden Growler |
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INDEX
Many
Chinese and East Asian films are very successful due to their fantastic
creativity and innovation.
Here
are a selection that deserve your attention.
Rawle
Austin presents...
Wu
Xia! A new era is dawning.
Hustled
by Kung Fu Hustle? Mauled by a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Evicted
from a House of Flying Daggers? Or saved by a Hero.
A
new breed of film is upon us, and it’s name is wu xia pian.
I’m
loving every second of wu xia screen time and I’m sure you
are too.
Translated
from the Mandarin Chinese language, wu xia means ‘martial
arts chivalry’ or ‘martial arts heroes’.
Wu
xia stories have long been a part of Chinese popular culture and
date back to the 2nd to 3rd century BC.
The
three most popular wu xia novelists were Jin Yong, Gu Long and Liang
Yu Sheng.
One
of the earliest novels in the genre was the Water Margin (or Outlaws
of the Marsh) written by Shi Nai’an and Luo Guanzhong during
the Ming Dynasty.
This
was adapted into a popular television series during the 1970’s. |
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China’s
film industry began in Shanghai in 1917 and wu xia movies flourished due
to their popularity.
Many
wu xia films are based on novels and they hold strong distinguishing characteristics,
which set them apart from standard martial arts films (kung fu or Gong
fu).
These
include fantastic swordplay, flying, magical weapons, a historical setting
and themes of friendship, loyalty and betrayal.
The
earliest wu xia films date back to the 1920s. A standout piece created
during this period was ‘The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple’
(1928).
This
was a silent film about the rescue of a commander held captive in a temple
full of traps.
The
director, Zhang Sichuan, adapted the film from the novel The Tale
of the Extraordinary Swordsman.
Also,
the Swordswoman of Huangjiang (1930), which showcased the abilities
of female warriors in this genre, was a major hit.
By
1949, many filmmakers had relocated to Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The
1950s and early 1960s saw experimental films being made and paved
the way for all the wirework, trampolines, reverse shots and speeded
up action shots that are so common today.
The
mid 1960s onwards ushered in a golden age of wu xia movies.
Two
pioneers of this time were King Hu who worked from Taiwan and later
on, the Shaw Brothers located in Hong Kong.
King
Hu had tremendous success with the film Come Drink With Me in 1966
starring Cheng Pei Pei. |
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It
was noted for it’s stunning art direction and innovative action
choreography. Chang Pei-Pei was crowned the queen of wu xia movies during
this time.
Another
King Hu smash hit was A Touch of Zen, filmed in 1971.
This
film brought the energy and finesse of classical Chinese theatre to the
wu xia genre, lingering on beautiful landscapes and treating sword fights
as veritable airborne ballets.
A
particular scene, a fight unfolding in a quiet bamboo grove has been much
copied since.
Also
of note is the film Dragon Gate Inn (1966) in which King Hu introduced
wire work into the genre.
The
Shaw Brothers were the leading Chinese film studio and came to utterly
dominate the wu xia genre.
Led
by top directors Chang Cheh and Chor Yuen, Shaw Brothers films had
high production values and elaborate sets.
They
produced such classics as One Armed Swordsman (1967) and Have Swordsman,
Will Travel (1969). |
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The
rise of Bruce Lee and kung fu movies in the 1970s influenced a change
in style in Chang Cheh’s movies to embrace this new trend but Chor
Yuen remained true to the origins of wu xia.
In particular, he made The Magic Blade (1976) which was a high point in
his portfolio.
His
films often had a high calibre cast including Yueh Hua, Ti Lung
and Derek Yee.
Regrettably,
Shaw Brothers abandoned film production in the mid 1980s.
A
little known fact is that John Woo - more well known for his bullet
ballet brawlers - was a protégé of Chang Cheh.
He
directed a wu xia movie called Last Hurrah for Chivalry in 1979. |
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A
new wave of wu xia movies began in the 1980s when a flood of new talent
descended on the scene trained in Japanese and Hollywood filmmaking.
Tsui
Hark (Xu Ke) was the leader of this fresh generation and immediately set
the stage alight.
Hark's
Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983) was a pure wu xia fantasy
film and a labour of love.
Other
directors of note during this period were Tong Ching Siu-tung who
made Duel to the Death (1983), Patrick Tam (who directed The Sword),
Tony Liu Jun-guk and Johnnie To.
The
early 1990s brought a fusion of wu xia elements and kung fu to create
a new breed of martial arts film called wire fu.
Tsui
Hark continued to be the leading force in the wu xia movie genre.
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Remaking
such classics as New Dragon Gate Inn (1992) and The Blade (1995). The
Blade was a remake of Chang Cheh’s One Armed Swordsman.
Other
filmmakers rising to the occasion to add depth to the genre were Wong
Kar Wai who gave us Ashes of Time (1994) and Sammo Hung (Hong Jin Bao,
also an actor and fight choreographer) who directed a personal favourite
of mine, Blade of Fury (1993).
This
film has to be seen to be believed. Starring Yang Li Qing (or Yeung
Lai Ching sometimes known as Cynthia Khan) and Ti Lung this is a
film of betrayal and revenge.
Featuring
gorgeous camera work, moving performances and some of the best sword
and fist combat I have ever seen on screen. Rated 18, this is a
true work of art.
Wo
fei chang xi huan zhe ge dian ying! |
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And
then, in the year 2000 came worldwide domination. In the form of Ang Lee’s
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
This
film hit the creative landscape like a freight train.
I
can still remember leaving the cinema in total awe of this movie.
This
is the film that put wu xia on the map.
Taiwanese
director Ang Lee was influenced by many of the older wu xia films
he had seen as a child including A Touch of Zen.
This
was the film that also catapulted actress Zhang Ziyi to superstardom.
It
also starred Cheng Pei- Pei, the former queen of wu xia movies.
Mere
words cannot express the beauty of this film.
A
whole new era of wu xia has been unleashed.
Most
recently, Zhang Yimou gave us Hero and House of Flying Daggers,
Stephen Chow tickled our funny bone with Kung Fu Hustle and Tsui
Hark returned to glory with Seven Swords. |
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Keep
an eye out for The Promise (Wu Ji) directed by Chen Kaige and starring
actress Cecilia Cheung.
Wu
xia is here for a long time to come.
Enjoy.
One
Nite in Mongkok - A Review>
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Vengeance - A review
Check
out Dianying.com for an extensive
database of Chinese films.
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