Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
©United China Vision / Good Machine International /
Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia /
Edko Films / Zoom Hunt International / Ang Lee Production /
China Film Co-Production Corp. / Asia Union Film & Entertainment Ltd.
distribution in Netherlands: Indies Film Distribution
photos courtesy International Film Festival Rotterdam
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Vaulting Higher, Hidden Wire.
A magical jade-handled four-hundred-year-old sword known as "The Green Destiny" is
retired by the honored warrior Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) and brought by Yu Shu Lien
(Michelle Yeoh) to be sheltered in Peking at the home of an old friend Sir Te (Lung
Sihung). Li has decided to end his career as a fighter and follow another path in life. Yu,
an old flame of Li, has reservations about accepting the sword to bring it to Te, but finally
complies with Li's wishes. However, when the sword is stolen, Li discovers that his martial
arts abilities are once again to be tested in the pursuit of this respected weapon. Jade Fox
(Cheng Pei Pei), a woman responsible for much wrongdoing and murder in the vicinity,
quickly becomes the major suspect for the theft and is sought by chief of police () whose
wife has earlier died at the hands of this evil woman. The masked culprit is known to be
someone exceptionally skilled in the art of war whose amazing talents result in a special
admiration from the famous Li, whose name is ensconced in Wuxia tradition. The heroes
or heroines found in the Wuxia are free spirits, not associated with any specific class,
whose values of honor, loyalty, and individual justice take precedence above all else.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
©United China Vision / Good Machine International /
Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia /
Edko Films / Zoom Hunt International / Ang Lee Production /
China Film Co-Production Corp. / Asia Union Film & Entertainment Ltd.
distribution in Netherlands: Indies Film Distribution
photos courtesy International Film Festival Rotterdam
|
Jen (Zhang Zhiyi), the strong-minded daughter of a local politician, has been promised as
bride-to-be in an arranged marriage, but is not content with her lot. She feels pangs of
envy while witnessing the freedoms experienced by Yu. The aspect of feminine strength
and struggle is a major theme running throughout the film. Two women appear in major
roles as martial arts experts; women who embrace Taoist thought and accept the
challenge of duels. Although the character of Jen was extensively drawn in the fourth part
of the original (five-part) novel by Wang Du Lu, Ang Lee took it upon himself to further
develop the character of Yu as well as that of Li within the confines of this section of the
tale. Li exemplifies the Wudan style of martial arts, which signifies inner strength. It
shares a common origin with the Shaolin style, which is more violent and represents outer
strength. These two styles are not separate or opposite, but together compose inner and
outer strength which, according to Chinese philosophy, are integral parts of every living
being.
The magnificent and majestic landscape of Ancient China serves as a tapestry for this
mystical fairy tale where warriors fly through the air, battle on the limbs of treetops, and
skim along watery surfaces. The photography of Peter Pau captures the breathtaking
scenery in such locations as the Gobi Desert and the Taklamakan Plateau. Yuen Wo-
Ping, undoubtedly familiar to many from his work on the Jackie Chan films as well as "The
Matrix" masterfully choreographed the frequently humorous action scenes. For this
occasion, he worked with several famous actors who have had previous training in dance,
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
©United China Vision / Good Machine International /
Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia /
Edko Films / Zoom Hunt International / Ang Lee Production /
China Film Co-Production Corp. / Asia Union Film & Entertainment Ltd.
distribution in Netherlands: Indies Film Distribution
photos courtesy International Film Festival Rotterdam
|
but limited in their experience with the martial arts. The result is a mixture between a kung
fu film and romantic costume drama presented and performed by highly trained artists.
Scriptwriter James Schamus, adapter of the original novel, has already previously joined
forces with director Ang Lee in their powerful collaboration "The Ice Storm."
Lee, a graduate of the film school at NYU, has managed to mix Asian and western
influences in his latest offering. As he says, "restraint, social codes, obedience,
repression. My films always seem to be about how these conflicts resolve themselves."
It's interesting to note that many have been surprised by Lee's choice to drop the line he
seemed to be following in order to create what could easily be considered a "B-film"
project. As a boy growing up in Chinese society, he was as attracted as everyone else to
the martial arts in films and entertainment. This was enough to encourage fantasies within
a young boy and make him feel that unless he made a martial arts film, he would not be a
true filmmaker. The pure energy of a world where people can fly and anything can happen
attracted him to the genre and, as he developed this project, drama entered, women
entered, and beauty entered until it became an Ang Lee movie. Despite the obvious
presence of a very talented hand to craft this film, some may find still find it difficult to
understand why the film has had such an immediate and huge success both critically and
at the box office. Well, perhaps it's best to put it all down to an audience combination
where many people are unquestionably and increasingly attracted to martial arts films and
all those others who still crave a little bit of Peter Pan on their silver screen.
High flying adored?
Have a look at the other IFFR reviews
Amores Perros (Love's a Bitch)
Images of a Moving City
Die Bad
Something Happened
Verboden te Zuchten
Rusty Water (Nok Mool)
Otesánek
Powers
City of Lost Souls
Letter from New York City
Me You Them (Eu Tu eLes)
The Circle (Dayareh)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
© 1994-2006 The Green Hartnett
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