The film tells the story of Wang Zhaojun, one of the four China’s ancient beauties, who is sent into the palace to be one of Emperor Yuan’s many concubines at her tender age. The Emperor has the habit of looking at portraits of the concubines to decide on who he’ll spend the night with. The portraits are done by the court artist Mao Yanshou who would only paint a prettier portrait for those who bribed him. When Wang refuses, he does a mediocre painting of her. The Emperor has a glimpse of Wang accidentally and is stunned by her beauty. Upon investigation into why he hasn’t known Wang’s existence, Mao’s criminal act is discovered and he is exiled. Opting for a betrayal to the Huns, Han’s troublesome northern neighbour, Mao lies and tells the Huns’ chieftain, Shan-yu, that Emperor Yuan is willing to offer Wang to him as a gift to pacify the relationship between the two kingdoms… Beyond the Great Wall is among a number of mega-budget historical epics produced by Shaw Brothers to match productions of the same genre in Hollywood in mid-1960s. Culminating decades of experience in Cantonese Cinema, Chan Ki-yui is given the most abundant resources in these films for the first time in his career and he does a magnificent job with Beyond the Great Wall . The thoroughly researched design excels itself in the grandeur of the royal palace and its many gardens. Li Han-hsiang, who started in the Art Department, knows exactly how to bring out the sumptuousness and solemnity of Chan's set design by moving his swift camera between the sculptured pillars of the courts.

©Licensed by Celestial Pictures Limited. All rights reserved.

26/8

(Sun)

2:00pm

Cinema, Hong Kong Film Archive

11/11

(Sun)

7:00pm

Cinema, Hong Kong Film Archive