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"House of Flying Daggers"
2004
Directed by Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou's second consecutive martial arts drama
blends sumptuous sets and balletic action sequences into a stunning and
kinetic whole. Set in 859 AD, the film follows a pair of lawmen (Andy Lau
and Takeshi Kaneshiro) as they attempt to uncover a revolutionary faction
called the Flying Daggers. The captains enlist the help of a beautiful
dancer (Zhang Ziyi) whose father is a member of the faction, and she
agrees to help after falling deeply in love with one of her protectors.
The story is ultimately secondary to the stunning visuals, which burst
forth with startling energy. As he proved with Hero and again with
this film, "Zhang could not shoot an unbeautiful scene if he tried"
(Anthony Lane, The New Yorker). In Mandarin with English subtitles.
119 minutes.
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