Vincent Zhao in a still from The Blade (1995), directed by Tsui Hark. The characters’ nihilism put off cinema-goers already bored with wuxia films, making this Tsui’s most underappreciated masterpiece.
The Blade, Tsui Hark’s nihilistic 1995 wuxia movie, may be the director’s least appreciated martial arts masterpiece
- Tsui’s film throws out the chivalry of the martial arts subculture and depicts in starkly realist style fighters who are cruel and barbaric
- He worked without a script, asking the cast to act out their character’s feelings, and didn’t choreograph fights. One critic called it a ‘stunning achievement’
Vincent Zhao in a still from The Blade (1995), directed by Tsui Hark. The characters’ nihilism put off cinema-goers already bored with wuxia films, making this Tsui’s most underappreciated masterpiece.
