King Hu, saber and beauty
In only a few feature films, King Hu has brought to the wuxia pian (the Chinese martial arts flick) a romantic and aesthetic dimension that would profoundly impact his contemporaries. The filmmaker - inspired by traditional Chinese painting and facial expressions of the Peking Opera - has revolutionized the genre. Hu creates jubilatory movies, where colors explode and expand in cinemascope!
Retrospective in the presence of actress Cheng Pei-Pei, "the queen of wuxia pian" and heroine of Come Drink with Me.
With the support of the Cultural Center of Taiwan in Paris
Come Drink with Me by King Hu (Da zui xia, 1966, 1h31)
To obtain the release of his son, kidnapped by bandits, the governor sends his daughter, "Golden Swallow," disguised as a man... Beautiful staging and swordfighting, a revolutionary work in the genre of "wuxia pian," Chinese martial arts films. With the remarkable Cheng Pei-Pei.
Institut Lumière Fri.19 11:15am | Cinéma Opéra Sat.20 5:30pm
Dragon Inn by King Hu (Long men kezhan, 1967, 1h51)
Ming Dynasty. Cao Shaoqin, head of the secret police, comes to power. He has Minister Yu executed and sends his children into exile... King Hu, attentive to the smallest details, creates a polished and modern film, a huge success in Asia.
Lumière Fourmi Sun.14 2:30pm | Cinéma Opéra Tue.16 4:45pm | Cinéma Opéra Mon.15 4:45pm | UGC Confluence Fri.19 6pm
A Touch of Zen by King Hu (Xia nü, 1971, 3h)
Gu Shengzai, a young scholar, meets Yang Huizhen, wanted for treason by Great Eunuch Wei’s police... Political trickery, rejected heroes, exceptional women: by far the greatest work of the filmmaker, infused with prodigious energy.
Cinéma Opéra Sun.14 8pm | Comœdia Thu.18 8pm
The Valiant Ones by King Hu (Zhong lie tu, 1975, 1h46)
In the 16th century, Japanese pirates ravage the Chinese coast. A local officer is in charge of arresting the bandits... Deftly choreographed action scenes, in sumptuous landscapes, at the edge of the China Sea.
Raining in the Mountain by King Hu (Kong shan ling yu, 1979, 2h)
The superior monk of the Buddhist temple of San Pao seeks a successor. He invites dignitaries for advice, but some are after an invaluable document... A contemplation on power, of an immense visual beauty.
Villa Lumière Thu.18 9:15pm | Lumière Terreaux Fri.19 2:30pm | Cinéma Opéra Sat.20 7:45pm
Legend of the Mountain by King Hu (Shan zhong zhuan qi, 1979, 3h20)
He Yun-Tsing is commissioned by a monastery to copy a sacred Buddhist text, which becomes the object of fervor... A saga between supernatural tale and philosophical fable, in gorgeous landscapes.
Lumière Fourmi Mon.15 2pm | Lumière Bellecour Sun.21 5:15pm
