The Swordsman
| The Swordsman | |
|---|---|
 Film poster |
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| Traditional | 笑傲江湖 |
| Simplified | 笑傲江湖 |
| Mandarin | Xiào Ào Jiāng Hú |
| Cantonese | Siu3 Ngou6 Gong1 Wu4 |
| Directed by | King Hu Ching Siu-tung (uncredited) Ann Hui (uncredited) Andrew Kam (uncredited) Tsui Hark (uncredited) |
| Screenplay by | Kwan Man-leung |
| Story by | Louis Cha |
| Starring | Sam Hui Cecilia Yip Jacky Cheung Sharla Cheung Fennie Yuen |
| Music by | Romeo Díaz James Wong |
| Cinematography | Andy Lam Peter Pau |
| Editing by | Marco Mak David Wu |
| Studio | Film Workshop |
| Release date(s) | April 5, 1990 |
| Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese Mandarin |
The Swordsman or Swordsman is a 1990 Hong Kong wuxia film. King Hu was credited as the director but he allegedly left the project midway, and the film was completed by a team led by producer Tsui Hark. The film is adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. The theme song of the film, Chong Hoi Yat Sing Siu (滄海一聲笑), was written by Wong Jim and performed by lead actor Sam Hui.
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[edit] Plot
During the Ming Dynasty, the Sunflower Manual (葵花寶典) was stolen from the palace and a Jinyi Wei team is sent to retrieve it. The Jinyi Wei attack Lin Zhennan and his son Lin Pingzhi, and the Lins separate to avoid their pursuers. Lin Zhennan meets Linghu Chong and Yue Lingshan from the Mount Hua Sect, requesting them to inform his son about the manual's location. Just then, Zuo Lengchan appears and a fight ensues, but Linghu Chong and Yue Lingshan manage to escape.
They travel to meet Yue Buqun at a retirement ceremony and encounter Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang along the way. Linghu Chong strikes up a friendship with them and they perform their musical piece Xiaoao Jianghu (笑傲江湖). On the day of the ceremony, Zuo Lengchan shows up and attempts to force Liu Zhengfeng to hand over Linghu Chong, accusing Liu of conspiring with the Demonic Cult. Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang manage to fight their way out despite being surrounded by several enemies. At the same time, Linghu Chong is wounded by Zuo Lengchan and he escapes and hides near the river. He hears Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang playing their musical piece and finds them. Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang present Linghu Chong with their instruments and the music score.
[edit] Cast
- Sam Hui as Linghu Chong
- Cecilia Yip as Yue Lingshan
- Jacky Cheung as Ouyang Quan
- Sharla Cheung as Ren Yingying
- Fennie Yuen as Lan Fenghuang
- Lau Siu-ming as Yue Buqun
- Yuen Wah as Zuo Lengchan
- Lam Ching-ying as Qu Yang
- Wu Ma as Liu Zhengfeng
- Lau Shun as Gu Jinfu
[edit] Box office
The film grossed HK$16,052,552 at the Hong Kong box office.[1]
[edit] Reception
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Critical review of the film has found deep themes involving the film's exploration of the nature of power, loss, relationships and memory. The irony of the villains' search for the world's most powerful martial arts scroll is that it is repeatedly mistaken for a scroll containing the score for an eloquent song about the folly of man and the mystery of life.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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