Chang Cheh regulars John Chiang, Ti Lung and Chen Koon-tai co-star in this tragic tale of war, ambition and the code of brotherhood. Based on the infamous 1870 assassination of a Qing Dynasty official named Ma Hsin-I, the film recounts (with dramatic license) the brotherly bond that the assassin and the victim shared until power and lust tore them apart. Among the three leads, Ti Lung is especially remarkable in portraying the transformation of Ma from a young bandit to a corrupt general who chooses love over loyalty. In addition to Chang’s 1973 critically acclaimed telling, this oft-adapted tale has also inspired several other films, including Peter Ho-sun Chan’s The Warlords (2007), two television series, and even a Peking Opera.
© Licensed by Celestial Pictures Limited. All rights reserved.

15/12

(Sat)

7:00pm *

Cinema, Hong Kong Film Archive

23/12

(Sun)

1:30pm #

Broadway Cinematheque

* Post-screening talk with Lau Yam
# Post-screening talk with Matthew Cheng