This Chinese is one I found in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, it was rated well by critics, who said it is dazzling and a spectacle, I certainly hoped it would be, directed by Hark Tsui (Once Upon a Time in China). Basically set in 1913 in Beijing, during Yuan Shikai's presidency of the country, when the Chinese revolution overthrew the monarchy and established a republic. Tsao Wan (Brigitte Lin) is patriotic rebel and the daughter of General Tsao (Kenneth Tsang). Sheung Hung (Cherie Chung) is a petty thief who takes a box of jewels during a loot. Bai Niu (Sally Yeh) is the daughter of the impresario and owner of the Peking Opera theatre. To help the guerrillas who are fighting for the republic, Tsao Wan must steal an important document from her father's safe. Bai Niu dreams of being an actress, but even female roles are played by men in the opera. The exploits of Tsao Wan and those of her two friends Sheung Hung and Bai Niu flow back and forth between the Imperial Palace and the theatre of the Beijing Opera, climaxing in a dizzying rooftop fight. Also starring Mark Cheng as Ling Pak-Hoi, Kwok Keung Cheung as Tung Man, Feng Ku as Commander Liu, Wu Ma as Mr. Wong, Paul Chun as Fa Gum-Sao, Po-Chih Leong as Mr. Kam and Ha Huang as General Tun. I just about kept up with the sprawling storyline, the three female leads all bring their own likeable personalities that challenge the sexist prejudices of the time it is set, the farcical comedy and political satire make you laugh, the costumes and scenery is colourful, and the fight, bloody moments and chase sequences are well choreographed and exhilarating, a fun and satisfactory period action adventure. Very good!
Review of Peking Opera Blues
