Since the beginning of the eighties, Tsui Hark has printed the Hong Kong cinema, in particular with the saga of Chinese Ghost Stories, of A Better Tomorrow, and, of course, Once upon a time in China. He produced and directed plethora of remarkable classics (Peking Opera Blues, Green Snake, The Lovers). But since his last masterpiece, The Blade in 1995, Tsui Hark was looking for a second blow. After some forgettable movies (with Van Damme), two following well screwed (Legend of Zu and Black Mask 2), and a brilliant success but not perfect (Time and Tide), Tsui Hark comes back at the front of international scene with his most ambitious project. A traditional sword film, but made for world audiences. Hoped with difficult to hide impatience, Seven Swords is born from two desires : take back the reins of an industry he has always ruled, and, maybe even more important, give an homage with dignity to his fetish director : Akira Kurosawa.
The result is with the height of all these waitings.
SEVEN SWORDS
A Tsui Hark film
Starring Donnie Yen, Charlie Yeung, Dai Liwu, Kim Yeon-So, Liu Chia Liang
Running Time : 2h30
Chinese release date : 29 Juillet 2005
French release date : 30 Novembre 2005
The story : at the seventeenth century, Mandchous created the Ching Dynasty, and prohibit the use of martial arts. At the borders of China, a group of mercenaries are in charge to eliminate the rebels. Among those bloodthirsty generals, Fire-Wind rule a barbarious troop, who in the north of China kill men, women, old men, and kids to sell back their heads and grow richer every day. Fu, an old rebel, played by Shaw Brothers studio veteran Lau Kar-leung (director of the 36th Chamber of Shaolin trilogy), ran away from the army to protect the peasants. He try to warn a village of an imminent attack by the army of Fire-Wind. With two villagers (among them, Charlie Yeung, egery of Tsui Hark's The Lovers), Fu climb the Mount Heaven looking for hiding warriors. Five of those men agree to help them. The great master give each of them a specific sword, according to the abilities. The seven swordsmen go down to the village to fight the mercenaries...
On a story that could look just as a remake of the Seven Samourais, or the Sturges Western The magnificent Seven, Tsui Hark bring an epic film, rich and personal. We find here his favourites themes : courage and cowardice, blindness, cruelty and weakness of men confronted to events or dilemmas that exceed themselves. Adapting the novel of Liang Yu Sheng, one of the masters of wu xia (sword novels), who wrote also The Bride With White Hair, Tsui Hark choose to target the masterpiece, without any scruples. Obviously upset by the double provocation of Zhang Yimou (Hero, House of the Flying Daggers), coming to hunt on his field without being invited, Tsui Hark bring his most beautiful weapons : a knowledge of narration, a visual inspiration that we no longer thought he still had.
The result is with the height of all these waitings.
SEVEN SWORDS
A Tsui Hark film
Starring Donnie Yen, Charlie Yeung, Dai Liwu, Kim Yeon-So, Liu Chia Liang
Running Time : 2h30
Chinese release date : 29 Juillet 2005
French release date : 30 Novembre 2005
The story : at the seventeenth century, Mandchous created the Ching Dynasty, and prohibit the use of martial arts. At the borders of China, a group of mercenaries are in charge to eliminate the rebels. Among those bloodthirsty generals, Fire-Wind rule a barbarious troop, who in the north of China kill men, women, old men, and kids to sell back their heads and grow richer every day. Fu, an old rebel, played by Shaw Brothers studio veteran Lau Kar-leung (director of the 36th Chamber of Shaolin trilogy), ran away from the army to protect the peasants. He try to warn a village of an imminent attack by the army of Fire-Wind. With two villagers (among them, Charlie Yeung, egery of Tsui Hark's The Lovers), Fu climb the Mount Heaven looking for hiding warriors. Five of those men agree to help them. The great master give each of them a specific sword, according to the abilities. The seven swordsmen go down to the village to fight the mercenaries...
On a story that could look just as a remake of the Seven Samourais, or the Sturges Western The magnificent Seven, Tsui Hark bring an epic film, rich and personal. We find here his favourites themes : courage and cowardice, blindness, cruelty and weakness of men confronted to events or dilemmas that exceed themselves. Adapting the novel of Liang Yu Sheng, one of the masters of wu xia (sword novels), who wrote also The Bride With White Hair, Tsui Hark choose to target the masterpiece, without any scruples. Obviously upset by the double provocation of Zhang Yimou (Hero, House of the Flying Daggers), coming to hunt on his field without being invited, Tsui Hark bring his most beautiful weapons : a knowledge of narration, a visual inspiration that we no longer thought he still had.
