King Hu’s masterpiece is probably the greatest of all wuxia films – martial arts pictures made in Taiwan that include a spiritual journey – alongside his own 1967 film Dragon Inn. An unparalleled and visionary work, its breathtaking action choreography and widescreen landscapes are the template for films like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and House of Flying Daggers. Its elemental view of nature and transcendence, meanwhile, make it an extraordinary big screen experience all of its own.
This programme takes place as part of the BFI’s nationwide Art of Action season, a BFI FAN initiative supported through National Lottery.
