Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (1972)
"Ai nu" (original title)

Director:

Yuen Chor

Writer:

Kang Chien Chiu

Stars:

Lily Ho, Hua Yueh, Betty Pei Ti

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lily Ho	...	Ai Nu
Hua Yueh	...	Chi Te
Betty Pei Ti	...	Chun Yi
Lin Tung	...	Pao Hu
Chung Shan Man	...	Yeh Shun-tzu
Mei Sheng Fan	...	Wu Hua-tien
Wen Chung Ku	...	Chao Wen-chien
Shen Chan	...	Li Chang-an
Mien Fang	...	Wei Chien-chung
Hao Chen	...	Liao Kuo-kuang
Hao Li	...	Chou Hai
Ching Ho Wang
Peng Peng
Ling Chiang
Kang Ho

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

whipping | blood | martial arts | lesbian | murder | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Release Date:

9 July 1972 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Body and Sword

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shaw Brothers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min 86 min (PAL DVD) 97 min (1974)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Remade as Ai nu xin zhuan (1984)

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Soundtracks

"Come In Number 51, Your Time Is Up"
Written by Waters / Gilmour / Mason / Wright
Performed by Pink Floyd

User Reviews

All the makings of a cult classic

18 year old Ainu (Lily Ho) is kidnapped and sold to a brothel. Her good looks and wild personality make her very popular with the lustful clients, but also draws the lesbian attentions of brothel madam Betty Tei Pei. Betty teaches Ainu the ways of lust and the ways of kung fu, and Ainu becomes more and more similar to her captor. But rage at her treatment is still burning inside her.

INTIMATE CONFESSIONS... ("Ainu" is the Chinese title) is another wu xia film from ace director Chor Yuen, but this time the exploitation angle often present in his films is brought right into centre stage. Chor Yuen seems to have been fascinated by lesbians, but this is the only film of his that I've seen where he gives them the starring roles. Both Lily Ho and Betty Tei Pei give sterling performances as the beautiful but vicious martial arts hookers, and they're joined by a cast of Shaws starlets in the nude to create a pre-Cat III film that balances action, intrigue and eroticism surprisingly well. The film is the acknowledged inspiration for Clarence Fok's NAKED KILLER, the ultimate Cat III classic.

As with all Chor Yuen's films, AINU is filmed entirely on Shaw Brothers sound stages, and features his trademark opulent art direction and cinematography. The plot is less labyrinthine than in many of his wu xia works, probably because Gu Long was in no way involved. In fact, the plot is probably too straight forward - the film runs less than 90 minutes, and doesn't develop its characters or situations as much as I would have liked. It still has a certain amount of depth and sophistication that is exceptionally unusual in a film centred around sex.

Yueh Hua has a small role as a hapless police officer, but it's undoubtedly the women that are the stars of the film. Even in the action scenes, which are not the main focus but are a pleasant bonus, it's Lily Ho and especially Betty Tei Pei that dominate. Given that neither of the ladies are martial artists they do a good job in the fights, with stunt doubles being noticable but not distracting. Ultimately its the characters and the situations that make the film interesting, and the art direction, cinematography and naked flesh that make it compelling. I enjoyed the film on a number of levels, and even my girlfriend was positively disposed towards it. I just wish it had been about 30 minutes longer, and spent a bit more time developing its story.

Definitely recommended.