Gau yat: San diu hap lui (1991)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Directors:

David Lai
Corey Yuen

Writers:

Jeffrey Lau (writer)
Kar Wai Wong (writer)

Release Date:

19 December 1991 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy | Romance | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A graying black-clad swordsman slays palace guards, as he flies through the air to an uncertain purpose...

Plot Keywords:

Mistaken Identity | Wedding Ring | Female Impersonator | Box | Kid Sister

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Andy Lau	...	Ching
Anita Mui	...	Yiu May-kwan
Aaron Kwok	...	Silver Fox
Kenny Bee	...	Siu Chuen
Gloria Yip	...	Wai Heung
Carina Lau	...	Pet Lady
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Henry Fong	...	Fox's Master

Also Known As:

Jiu yi: Shen diao xia lu (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
Saviour of the Soul (Hong Kong: English title)
Terrible Angel

Runtime:

USA:92 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:15

Company:

Team Work Production House

Movie Connections:

Featured in San tung gui see doi (1994)

A tight budget produces quality work!

This film demonstrates to young and novice film makers what can be done if you have real talent. The composition of every shot in every scene is what many film makers can only wish to achieve.

The story apart as this is a corny movie, this film will show you perfect camera angles, superior editing and how to use light, shadow and colour like a master. Please bear in mind that this was all achieved using basic film techniques and no digital effects.

You will see great washes of colour and lighting to which the actors are set against and into, the use of water and lighting is seen to produce a magnificent feel and add great drama and movement to scenes.

Andy Lau, seems to have located or created locations that reflect the scene being shot by the colours and lighting used and plays on this by not being restricted to primary colours.

Too me, this film seems like a test bed for superior camera work and set design and succeeds to that end.

Also to note is the direction of the actors. Their movements are measured and seem to strive for perfection. It seems like the most minute actions were included to endorse the objectives of the characters, so that even the most impossible actions can be seen as plausible in the world this film is set in.

Listen for the "your the one that I want" line sung in engrish in the scene before the toilet fight. Travolta eat your heart out.