Martial Arts Legacies

The Valiant Ones (4K Digitally Restored Version)

Prod/Dir/Scr/Art Dir: King Hu
Martial Arts Choreographer: Chu Yuen-lung (aka Sammo Hung)
Prod Co: King Hu
Cast: Hsu Feng, Bai Ying, Roy Chiao, Chu Yuen-lung (aka Sammo Hung), Lau Kong
1975 | Colour | DCP | Mandarin | Chi & Eng Subtitles | 108 min

Set in the Ming dynasty, director King Hu's favourite and most extensively researched historical backdrop, The Valiant Ones tells the story of an epic battle between Japanese pirates and a small but diversified group of patriots under the leadership of real-life Ming general Yu Dayou. At once a wuxia adventure, a war film and a historical drama, it melds together Peking opera-style choreography, percussion music, and tightly-paced editing to produce some of the most beautiful, striking, and dance-like action moments in Hu’s career. A remarkable work by Hu, the production process of the self-funded film spanned three years, with the director taking on multiple creative roles, including scriptwriting, art design and producing. The result is a film true to the director’s artistic intention. Hu excelled at discovering and getting the best out of locations, and his ingenious use of landscape in his mise-en-scène highlights his unique aesthetics, a manifestation of poetic lyricism and classical regard for nature.

Thanks to Mr. Hu’s generous donation of the film’s negatives in 1996 to the Hong Kong Film Archive for permanent collection, the film was the first title chosen for 4K digital restoration by the Archive in 2020.

Showing with 'Restoration Story' of the Film

Courtesy of King Hu Foundation US

The contents of the programme do not represent the views of the presenter. The presenter reserves the right to change the programme should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary.