The Bride with White Hair (Bai fa mo nu zhuan, 1993)
Ronny Yu
Hong Kong
88 mins, color, Cantonese (English subtitles)
Here's one film that lives up to the every last bit of hype fans hurl about it. I'll just list the things that are great about it and let others judge. First, there's the story: not only is it fairly nonstandard in a very refreshing non-Hollywood sort of way, but it is actually so good as to be ripped by countless imitators (including, most recently, XENA: WP, cf. the gauntlet scene). Then, there's the cinematography: but that's just Peter Pau, so no surprises here. Then, there's the superb acting, especially Brigitte Lin, but she never fails to stun me, so I was prepared for that. Leslie Cheung is also inspired and rounds off the strong performances. The way Ronny Yu directed this is also hard to describe. There are many exciting camera shots, and the way some of the sequences are edited, and fights choreographed, is a mark of a competent and inspired director. Yu was so good in this film, he could not even match himself with the sequel.
I've heard people complain about the story. Usually, it's the self-proclaimed history "experts" who seem to think that THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR should have been a history film. Although it is set against the fall of the Ming dynasty and the invasion of the Manchus (the infamous General Wu San-Kuei (Eddy Ko) even makes an appearance), and despite references to real events, the film is just a folk fantasy and should be treated as such. It's a beautiful and tragic (is that redundant?) forbidden love story. The Wu Tang martial arts progeny Zhuo Yi-Hang (Leslie Cheung) falls for the enchanting and deadly Lian Ni-Chang (Brigitte Lin). This would not have normally been a problem, but the two come from the wrong sides of the tracks. He is the disciple of the most traditional and famous clan in China, and she is a member of a rival clan, headed by the biologically implausible Ji Wu-Shuang (Francis Ng/Elaine Lui). The two defy the orders of their superiors for some hot and wild gallivanting in a cave pool. Although Ni-Chang literally goes through fire, well, embers actually, to be with her lover, Yi-Hang proves to be less trustworthy. When suspicions are cast over Ni-Chang for the brutal slaying of Wu Tang top brass, he is quick to side against her (the spineless bastard).
Some things that definitely should NOT be missed in this film include, in no particular order: The amazing knowledge of ancient Greek mythology displayed by Yi-Hang in the English translation, when he refers to a task as "Herculean"; The absolutely mesmerizing shots of Brigitte Lin washing her hair (and doing various sundry things); the wire-fu flying without propellers that lends more credibility to the goings-on; and the bloody messy killing of countless extras, doubtless on minimum wage. I loved the film with guilty abandon.
The Universe DVD is very nice. The transfer is clean, crisp, free of specks, and does justice to Peter Pau. The sound is also very good, at least the Cantonese track. The English subtitles are hilariously bad, but are readable and will not confuse too much. My copy of the DVD has an annoying flaw due to bad pressing in that at one point it skips back 10 minutes. I have to replace it. Anyway, for such a good film, you most definitely want the DVD.
April 20, 2001. BLS