SHADOW (Ying)

Director: Yimou Zhang

China, 116

Screenwriter: Wei Li, Yimou Zhang.

Cast: Chao Deng, Li Sun, Ryan Zheng, Qianyuan Wang.

 

Zhang Yimou, one of China’s most celebrated directors who made the Academy Award nominated Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern, and Hero, returns to the spotlight with a movie with a Game of Thrones level battle for power. Three ancient kingdoms are at war, and the one ruled by the ailing Ziyu is in trouble. But Ziyu has an ace in the hole – a courageous lookalike who can fight the Emperor’s battles. Once, of course, he has been trained in the necessary martial arts. Known for his visual gifts, director Zhang has made a film of black, white, and grey images that resemble exquisite calligraphy…until the red of blood begins to flow.

“an extravagant and exquisite visual tour de force…in a combination of wuxia-style pulp fiction and rarefied cinematic technique.”  – Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times.