Operation Woods

The film is noted for two reasons: an all-female cast and the screen debut of Chu Sau-ying, a female wenwusheng whose fame swept across Southeast Asia. The opening scene, which features Lee (clad in a dakou ) sparring with Chu wielding their halberd and golden spear, excites with its spectacular theatricality. The story begins with a barbaric tribe's imminent invasion of Jin. The chieftain (Chu in cross-dressing role) threatens to massacre the capital unless Princess Danfung (Fung Wong Nui) offers herself in marriage. Despite vehement opposition from chief-of-staff Lung Sau-wan (Tang Bik-wan in cross-dressing role), Jin general Fu Siu-fung (Lee in cross-dressing role) urges the princess to go along with the wedding as a ruse to plant explosives in the enemy camp. His plan is foiled. As the infuriated chieftain is about to bring carnage to Jin, a wounded Fu detonates the explosives, wiping out the invaders. The play remains a staple in theatrical repertoires, its adaptation into a Cantonese operatic number a testament to its enduring popularity.

Date	Time	Venue
26/11/2016 (Sat)	7:30pm	Cinema, Hong Kong Film Archive
29/12/2016 (Thu)	11:00am	Auditorium, North District Town Hall (Additional Screening)

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