Butterfly and Sword (1993) San lau sing woo dip gim (original title)

Director:

Michael Mak

Writers:

John Chong (writer)
Lung Ku (novel)

Release Date:

16 January 1993 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Romance

Plot:

Dynamo Michelle Khan stars as a loyalist who attempts to keep the King's empire from being overthrown by a revolutionary group. Top fight action.

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Martial Arts

Cast

Tony Leung Chiu Wai	...	Meng Sing-Wan
Jimmy Lin	...	Prince Cha
Michelle Yeoh	...	Lady Ko
Joey Wang	...	Butterfly
Donnie Yen	...	Yip Cheung
Chung-Hua Tou	...	Lui Heung-Chuen
Elvis Tsui	...	Lord Suen Yuk Pa
Chuan-Chen Yeh	...	Ho Ching
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kuo-Chu Chang	...	Eunuch Tsao
Hin-cheung Choi	...	Lord Suen's henchman
Ben Ko Chu	...	Bald fighter
Wong Chung-Kui
Lam Gwong-Chun
Ka Ting Lee	...	Lui Chung Yuen
Lee Wai
Yao Wang

Directed by
Michael Mak

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
John Chong		writer
Lung Ku		novel

Produced by
Yen-ping Chu	....	producer

Original Music by
Chris Babida
Chin Yung Shing

Cinematography by
Yung Shu Chen

Film Editing by
Chung Yiu Ma
Tung-Lit Mui
Jing-chang Wang

Art Direction by
Lee Yiu Gwong
Chi-Hing Leung

Costume Design by
Bo-Ling Ng

Makeup Department
Hei-ke Tsai	....	makeup artist
Choi Yi-Ling	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Jackson Chan Tak-Wa	....	production manager
Siu Ping Cheung	....	production manager
Eric Dang Chiung-Mu	....	production manager
Chan Gei-Yuen	....	production manager
Ching-hsuan Li	....	production manager
Chung-mo Tang	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chui Gwok-Yin	....	assistant director
Sing Ming Ko	....	assistant director

Art Department
Wai Ming Wong	....	props

Stunts
Yiu-Sing Cheung	....	action choreographer
Siu-Tung Ching	....	action director
Yuk-Sing Ma	....	action choreographer
Suen Siu-Ming	....	action choreographer
Yao Wang	....	action choreographer

Camera and Electrical Department
Choi Sam-Kat	....	gaffer

Other crew
Chien-hsin Pi	....	planning
Suen Pooi-Gwan	....	script supervisor
Hui Pooi-Yung	....	presenter
Dun Wu	....	presenter
Chih-wei Yao	....	planning

Production Companies

• Chang-Hong Channel Film & Video Co.

Distributors

• Regal Films Distribution (1993) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Icon Film Distribution (2011) (Australia) (DVD)
• Splendid Film (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Tai Seng Video Marketing (2004) (USA) (DVD) (as Tai Seng Entertainment)

Other Companies

• China United Film Company  sound post-production

Also Known As:

"San lau sing woo dip gim" - Hong Kong (original title)
"Butterfly Sword" - USA (DVD title)

Runtime:

Hong Kong:88 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 (cut) | Hong Kong:II | Germany:16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:MA (2011)

Company:

Chang-Hong Channel Film & Video Co.

Trivia:

Available with Cantonese or Mandarin language tracks (both dubbed in post-production).

Movie Connections:

Remake of Killer Clans (1976)

Daft and definitely flawed but still enjoyable wuxia craziness

I remember thinking this was pretty weak when I first saw it and its not a classic by any means but its definitely grown on me. The plot, though not actually that complicated, isn't especially well written or handled and the direction is great either. We have Tony Leung as a young swordsman, who hides his true nature from his beautiful young wife Joey Wong. At the same time Leungs sister, played by Michelle Yeoh is jealous of Wong and seems to harbour an undercurrent of incestuous desire for her brother. Don't blame me, I just call things how I see them and the film definitely hints at it. And finally we have poor Donnie Yen, in love with Michelle Yeohs character. On top of all this we have a standard wuxia warring clans of the martial arts world type set up. The most obvious problem with the film is the fighting, choreographed by Ching Siu Tung and not one of his best moments, not helped by the fairly unskilled direction of Michael Mak. The action loses visual coherency at times, has some bad undercranking (thats speeding up) and wastes the martial arts talents of its leads. On the plus side it is quite bloody at times and also bonkers, for example swords fly, people fly, a man is used as an arrow and trees are used for impalement purposes in one of the best parts. Its loopy and fun when it works and though underused and weak in places the better moments of the fighting really bring the film up. The acting of the leads helps a lot too. Tony Leung is full of charisma, Joey Wong all sweet and innocent, Michelle Yeoh amusingly mean and bitchy yet with a streak of pathos and Donnie Yen likable and a little melancholy. Their characters and interactions work, they have funny moments and all have a good deal of charm, giving the film a sweetly watchable vibe. Even when the script is weak or the fighting is irritating the leads pull it off just about. Altogether its not difficult to see why the film isn't that appreciated, it has blatant problems and the greatest value comes from its nuttiness and a love for the main actors. I immensely enjoy the work of the four of them and I also crave craziness in cinema so this film was generally a good time for me. But it might well not be for you, its definitely one to proceed with caution over. So be forewarned...