Celebrating UNESCO’s ‘World Day for Audiovisual Heritage’: Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983) (4K Digitally Restored Version)
Since 2005, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated October 27th as “World Day for Audiovisual Heritage” to acknowledge the importance of audiovisual heritage to regional culture, and to enhance the public’s knowledge of the preservation of audiovisual heritage.
In honour of “World Day for Audiovisual Heritage”, the Hong Kong Film Archive will present a 4K digitally-restored treasure from its collection, Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983) so that more of the viewing public would have the opportunity to watch this prominent work. Director Tsui Hark has always been engrossed in the world of wuxia; the plot of Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain involves numerous fantasy and magical elements with immortal and mysterious characters. In an era before computer-generated special effects, the filming process itself was not an easy one. However, Tsui Hark defied the odds, referencing the traditional studio-generated techniques, and was first in Hong Kong to bring in advanced Hollywood visual special effects, setting new ground rules on old methods. With rich, colourful images, he brought the audience into an ancient oriental fairytale world, showing off his incredible imagination and indomitable spirit of putting his own spin on tradition. As an innovator in the local film industry, this is an epochal film of the highest status in its influence and inspiration.
We acknowledge Fortune Star Media Limited for providing the film elements for Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain, and authorising the Archive to conduct digital restoration, so that this film would be able to be screened in its 4K restored glory. This was also the Archive’s first time to restore a fantasy wuxia film with so many special effects shots, therefore of great significance to us.
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