The Face Behind the Mask (1974 film)

The Face Behind The Mask is a wuxia film directed by Chen Chi-hua.

Plot

Chin Tien Wei has been elected Chief of the after his three disciples eliminate the most feared fighters in the Martial World, namely: the "Militant Dragon and Tiger", the "Devil Stars" and the "Three Horrid Mice". However not everyone is pleased at Wei's appointment as Chief and many anonymous fighters and wizards are sent to upset his household, "The First family". Soon Chi Tien Wei realizes that there is a betrayer within his own house.

The Eunuch

The Eunuch is a Shaw Brothers wuxia film directed by Teddy Yip, and starring Pai Ying and Lisa Chiao Chiao.

The Emperor's Shadow

The Emperor's Shadow is a made in the People's Republic of China by the Xi'an Film Studio. It was directed by Zhou Xiaowen, with script written by Lu Wei. The film was the most expensive made in China at the time of its release.

Plot

Set in third century BC China, the story of ''Emperor's Shadow'' revolves around the relationship between Ying Zheng , king of Qin, and later First Emperor; and the musician Gao Jianli . The two grew up together in the same household but were separated after the former returns to his state of to become king. After reaching adulthood, King Zheng embarks on a series of wars to fulfill his plan of unifying China. He kidnaps Gao Jianli from a rival state to compose a powerful hymn for the new state. The two conflict over the new composition, the construction of grand public works, and King Zheng's daughter, Princess Yueyang .

Music and themes

The political use of music and of the arts in general is one of the major themes in the film. In one of the climaxes of the movie, the king states his belief that through music he can "control the minds and hearts of the people", echoing Mao Zedong's Yan'an talks of 1942. Music is perceived by the monarch as being as important as military power. Whereas his armies can conquer his rivals, he needs the arts to exert spiritual and ideological control. At the premiere of the film on 7 June 1996 in Beijing, director Zhou Xiaowen noted: "Chinese rulers have always wanted to control our spirit. But they cannot succeed in doing so."

Reception

After ''The Emperor's Shadow'' was released in five major Chinese cities, it was banned by state authorities without any clear reason being given. Eight months later permission was given for re-release.

The film has been criticised in China for its many historical inaccuracies. Chief among these is the distortion of the character of Gao Jianli. According to Sima Qian's ''Shi Ji'', Gao was a friend of the assassin Jing Ke, who fails in an attempt upon King Zheng's life. Other minor errors, mostly of academic interest, also contribute to the film's lack of historical authenticity. The director Zhou Xiaowen defended his film by saying that it was an exploration of ideas and values for the present day and was not intended as a strictly historical depiction of the First Emperor. In a 1999 interview, he said "I don't like history; I just like the buildings, the palaces, the dress."

The film influenced the creation of the 2006 opera "The First Emperor".

The Duel (film)

The Duel is a directed by Andrew Lau, of '''' fame. It is based on a wuxia novel by Gu Long. The film is known for its humorous take on the famous story as well as for its brilliant special effects.

Plot

The plot revolves around Nick Cheung's character "Dragon Nine" who is attempting to solve a mystery in the days before the world's two greatest martial artists are slated to fight a duel atop the roof of the Forbidden City. Though this film was made as a Lunar New Year project, which usually signifies a greater emphasis on fast-paced fun than on meticulous artistry, the film is nevertheless visually stunning and maintains a fairly coherent plot, thanks both to the talented cast and crew and to the strong source material.
As Dragon Nine investigates, a murder plot is exposed, causing many people to die, knowing too much about the plot. It is revealed that one of the martial artists, Cool Son, was the murderer.

The Deadly Duo

The Deadly Duo is a Shaw Brothers wuxia film directed by Chang Cheh, and starring David Chiang and Ti Lung.

The Crimson Charm

The Crimson Charm is a Shaw Brothers wuxia film directed by Huang Feng.

Plot

The film is the tale of a noble swordsman and a one-armed swordswoman who find themselves up against the evil Crimson Charm gang of thieves and thugs.

The Butterfly Murders

The Butterfly Murders is an wuxia film set in an unspecified time in China's past. It has elements of history and a murder mystery. Butterflies have apparently become a lethal weapon. Several rivals contend for a mysterious prize, using a variety of unusual weapons.

There is an apparent explanation near the end, though in the English version it is obscured by cryptic subtitles. But it seems that the butterflies were innocent after all - someone knew how to control them and used them as cover. The martial-arts experts were apparently working on something that looked remarkably like a , a superior weapon that would have changed history if the Chinese had developed it. But they get diverted into internal feuding and the implication is that the martial-arts experts kill each other off.

The film is not available on tape or DVD in the west, though there was a Hong Kong release.