I've Just Seen: The Blue Kite (1993)

Director: Tian Zhuangzhuang

The Blue Kite is a perfect example of why I enjoy watching 'world' films. I know very little of Chinese history, only that Mao's Communist Party took over mid-20th century. While Zhuangzhuang's film does not give an exact history of this takeover, it gives us a great insight into the impact this had on Chinese society, on a practical day-to-day level, and the emotional effect it also had on families. The story follows Tietou and his mother Chen as they try to make their way through this new world of strict party conformity in the absence of a patriarch.

The film is divided into three sections, the first named after Tietou's biological father, then his "Uncle" Li and then his Stepfather. We watch the tight, happy family unit slowly collapse as Tietou's father is betrayed, his 'Uncle's health fails, and his cold Stepfather try to save Tietou and his mother from the might of the Cultural Revolution.

There is a quiet tension to the story that becomes more prominent as Tietou grows up and realises what is happening around him. While the story is structured around Tietou's father figures, his mother Chen is strong presence throughout as she tries to keep her son safe. Liping Lu is fantastic as Chen, her youthful happiness giving way to despair.

The Blue Kite proved controversial in China and was banned. It is not loud in its damning of the spread of Communism in China, but its quiet power and emotive storytelling speaks volumes.

I've Just Seen: House of Flying Daggers (2004)

House of Flying Daggers (2004)



Director: Zhang Yimou

If you enjoyed Ang Lee's Crounching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, you are almost guaranteed to like House of Flying Daggers. Not only is its another wuxia film (though this time without the flying, despite the film's title), but its also stars Zhang Ziyi who was so brilliant in Crouching Tiger. Here she plays a blind dancer called Mei, who is believed to be the daughter of the leader of the outlawed group House of the Flying Daggers, who are battling the corrupt Tang Dynasty. She is arrested, then freed by Jin, who is acting as a double-agent, pretending to be sympathetic to the group's cause in order to infiltrate it. He falls in love with Mei, who seems to return his affections, while remaining weary of him.

This is one of the most visually stunning films I have seen, and if you can watch a Blu-ray copy (or even better, see it on a big screen), do so. Yimou uses colour to breathtaking effect; action scenes are set in autumnal orange forests, serenely green bamboo forests and the climatic encounter is staged as a blizzard turns everything white. The costumes are also eye-catching, particularly the robes Mei wears during her drum dance. The action sequences are as balletic and beautiful as the dance Mei performs early on, with each setpiece distinctive from the other.

This is a great film, both narratively and stylistically. It puts many Western action films to shame with its emphasis on the beauty of the images, especially the fight scenes, and its selective use of CGI; knives, arrows and beans are animated, but humans perform the action scenes. It is romantic, funny, intelligent, exciting, and incredibly gorgeous to look at.