House of Flying Daggers (Shi Mian Mai Fu) | Art of ActionHouse of Flying Daggers (Shi Mian Mai Fu) | Art of Action

House of Flying Daggers, an intoxicating blend of visceral, dazzlingly breathless action and stunning visuals in vivid colour...

Yimou Zhang, China’s most critically acclaimed auteur, followed Oscar® nominations for the period drama Raise the Red Lantern and the wuxia martial arts film Hero with House of Flying Daggers, an intoxicating blend of visceral, dazzlingly breathless action and stunning visuals in vivid colour, with this special screening marking the film’s 20th anniversary.

Minutely choreographed and gracefully balletic in execution, House of Flying Daggers cemented Ziyi Zhang as the spearhead of 2000s female-led wuxia cinema, following in the footsteps of the legendary Zheng Pei Pei and Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh.

The Tang Dynasty is fighting to keep control over China, a battle they are losing to several rebel groups. One such group is the House of Flying Daggers, who steal from the wealthy and give to the poor. Two police deputies working with the government (Takeshi Kaneshiro and Andy Lau) are ordered to investigate the dancer Mei (Ziyi Zhang), who is rumoured to be working with the House of Flying Daggers. But both men fall under her charms and decide to help her escape instead.

Yimou Zhang | China | 2004 | 119 mins | Subtitled | 15

Image Credit: House of Flying Daggers © 2004 Elite Group (2003) Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.