Shi mian mai fu (2004)

Director:

Yimou Zhang

Writers:

Feng Li (writer)
Bin Wang (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

14 January 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Plot:

A romantic warrior breaks a beautiful member of a rebel army out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem.

Plot Keywords:

Forest | Visually Impaired Person | Autumn | Blindness | Jealousy

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 16 wins & 36 nominations

Cast

Takeshi Kaneshiro	...	Jin
Andy Lau	...	Leo
Ziyi Zhang	...	Xiao Mei (as Zhang Ziyi)
Dandan Song	...	Yee
Hongfei Zhao	...	Performer
Jun Guo	...	Performer
Shu Zhang	...	Performer
Jiusheng Wang	...	Performer
Zhengyong Zhang	...	Performer
Yongxin Wang	...	Performer
Dong Liu	...	Performer
Qi Zi	...	Performer
Xuedong Qu	...	Performer
Liping Tian	...	Performer
Hongwei Zhao	...	Performer
Weina Huang	...	Performer
Dan Ge	...	Performer
Xiadong Yang	...	Performer
Yisha Shang	...	Performer
Ying Liu	...	Performer
Jingwen Huang	...	Performer
Keija Zhang	...	Performer
Tianyou Luo	...	Performer
Lin Zhu	...	Performer
Jiwei Hu	...	Performer
Yu Hong	...	Performer
Bojie Hao	...	Performer
Jiajun Zhu	...	Performer
Ge Xu	...	Performer
Jingxiu Chou	...	Performer
Cuifang Guo	...	Performer
Chengyuan Li	...	Performer
Shuo Zhang	...	Performer
Jidong Zhang	...	Performer
Qiang Li	...	Performer
Yang Fu	...	Performer
Yang Guang	...	Performer
Yang Wen	...	Performer
Liang Chen	...	Performer
Xiuqiang Lin	...	Performer
Kun Wang	...	Performer
Meng Li	...	Performer
Ming Dong	...	Performer
Xiaodong Zheng	...	Performer
Chacha Song	...	Performer
Xuanyi Wang	...	Performer
Xueying Huang	...	Performer

Directed by
Yimou Zhang

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Feng Li		writer
Bin Wang		writer
Yimou Zhang		writer

Produced by
William Kong	....	producer
Weiping Zhang	....	executive producer
Yimou Zhang	....	producer
Zhenyan Zhang	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Shigeru Umebayashi

Cinematography by
Xiaoding Zhao

Film Editing by
Long Cheng

Production Design by
Tingxiao Huo

Art Direction by
Zhong Han		(supervising art director)
Bin Zhao

Costume Design by
Emi Wada

Makeup Department
Siu-Mui Chau	....	chief hair stylist (as Chau Siu Mui)
Lee-na Kwan	....	chief makeup artist (as Lee Na Kwan)
Shui Niu	....	assistant hair stylist
Yang Ruo	....	assistant makeup artist
Yang Xiaohai	....	chief makeup artist
Ge Xiufang	....	assistant makeup artist
Diu Zhijuan	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Tianhui Ge	....	unit manager
Larissa Khaliapina	....	unit manager: Ukraine (as Larysa Khalyapina)
Wenhua Ma	....	assistant production supervisor
Lu Sen	....	unit manager
Huang Xinmin	....	assistant production supervisor (as Huang Xinming)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Xiaoyang Chang	....	assistant director

Art Department
Huo Depeng	....	assistant property master
Yi Ho	....	property master (as Yi Hou)
Zhongquan Hu	....	set dresser
Mu Ke	....	assistant property master
Bao-Tai Li	....	assistant property master (as Li Baotai)
Shaochun Liu	....	special props
Marco Nero	....	matte painter
Guo Hong Sheng	....	assistant property master
Xu Xiaolong	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Steve Burgess	....	sound effects editor
Chris Goodes	....	sound editing assistant
Alex Gordon	....	adr recordist
Cao Huijun	....	location sound assistant
Vic Kaspar	....	sound editor
Jo Mion	....	sound editor
Andrew Neil	....	re-recording mix assistant
Andrew Neil	....	sound effects editor
Glenn Newnham	....	sound editor
Paul Pirola	....	sound effects editor
Roger Savage	....	sound mixer
Roger Savage	....	sound re-recording mixer
Roger Savage	....	sound supervisor
Blair Slater	....	foley recordist
Jing Tao	....	sound
Mario Vaccaro	....	foley artist
Niu Zeliang	....	location sound assistant
Zhigang Zhang	....	first sound assistant
Gina Nuccio	....	additional adr editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Lindsay Adams	....	digital compositor
Charlie Armstrong	....	digital compositor
Vaughn Arnup	....	digital compositor
Mark Barber	....	digital compositor
Jason Billington	....	digital compositor
Roger Bolton	....	digital compositor
David Booth	....	visual effects
Kent Boswell	....	visual effects production manager: Fuel
Dan Breckwoldt	....	digital compositor
Andy Brown	....	visual effects supervisor
Paul Buckley	....	animator: Digital Pictures Iloura
Sam Cole	....	compositing supervisor: Fuel
Chris Davies	....	digital compositor
Jonathan Dixon	....	digital liaison
Clinton Downs	....	digital artist
Bryn Farrelly	....	digital compositor
Siggy Ferstl	....	digital intermediate colorist: Digital Pictures
Morgane Furio	....	Inferno compositor
Darrin Hanley	....	digital compositor
David Hansen	....	CG artist
Mick Harkin	....	digital compositor
Mark Harmon	....	digital grading
Jason Hawkins	....	video operations technician
Jamie Hediger	....	digital compositor
Michelle Hunt	....	digital compositor
Bhakar James	....	senior animator: Animal Logic
Krista Jordan	....	senior compositor
Angie Lam	....	visual effects supervisor
Stefan Litterini	....	digital artist: Animal Logic
Ineke Majoor	....	visual effects producer
Keith Meure	....	rotoscope artist
Kirsty Millar	....	visual effects supervisor: Animal Logic
Naomi Mitchell	....	visual effects producer
Nick Monton	....	digital compositor
Nick Monton	....	digital intermediate supervisor: Digital Pictures
David Mosqueda	....	digital compositor
Nick Murphy	....	video operations technician
Mark Nettleton	....	senior compositor
Matthew North	....	digital compositor
Jongsu Oh	....	digital artist: Animal Logic
Murray Pope	....	visual effects executive producer
Glen Pratt	....	digital compositor
Paul Raeburn	....	digital compositor
Danielle Rubin	....	visual effects production manager
Evan Shipard	....	digital matte painter/compositor
Nathan Stone	....	animator
Robert Sullivan	....	video operations supervisor: Animal Logic
Paul Taylor	....	video operations technician
Ian Watson	....	visual effects artist
Peter Webb	....	digital compositor
Eddy Wong	....	visual effects supervisor: Mendfond
Victor Wong	....	visual effects supervisor: Mendfond
Bryce Brecheisen	....	visual effects coordinator (uncredited)

Stunts
Xia Bin	....	stunts
Zhan Bo	....	stunts
Chuanyong Cheng	....	stunts
Ou Chengwei	....	stunts
Shi Feng	....	stunts
Zhong Feng	....	stunts
Xiang Gao	....	stunts (as Gao Xiang)
Fei Goa	....	stunts
Cao Hua	....	stunts
Li Lei	....	stunts
Zhu Shaojie	....	stunts
Li Wei	....	stunts
Zheng Xin Xin	....	stunts
Hu Yan	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Xiaoyan Bai	....	still photographer
Guan Fei	....	camera grip
Xu Tie Gong	....	electrician
Huangpu Honghao	....	generator operator
Zhu Huilong	....	camera grip
Jianmin Ji	....	lighting designer
Raymond Lam	....	camera operator
Raymond Lam	....	director of photography: "b" unit
Raymond Lam	....	steadicam operator
Wang Liam	....	camera grip
Wang Lihong	....	gaffer
Sun Xin Shang	....	electrician
Cao Shuiqiang	....	electrician
Cao Tongan	....	electrician
Li Xuebo	....	electrician
Jiandong Yu	....	electrician
Jin-Di Zhu	....	assistant camera (as Zhu Jindi)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bao-Rong Huang	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Huang Baorong)

Editorial Department
Leo Bahas	....	negative matcher
Olivier Fontenay	....	film and digital color grader
Bin Li	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Mark Franken	....	music editor

Other crew
Xu Aidong	....	production assistant
Xu Bin	....	second production assistant
Amealy Go Chan	....	massage therapist
Cynthia Chang	....	assistant: Mr. Kaneshiro
John Charles	....	software engineer: Sony DAC
Siu-Tung Ching	....	action choreographer
Julian Chiu	....	second production assistant
Zhao Danian	....	production assistant
Ni Guanche	....	second production assistant
Li Haoxue	....	catering assistant
Zhang Hui	....	interpreter
Du Jian	....	second production assistant
Wang Jianguo	....	second production assistant
Wenrui Jia	....	caterer
Zheng Jie	....	dancer
Du Jin	....	interpreter
Gao Ke	....	production assistant
Cai Li	....	martial arts coordinator
Qiang Li	....	choreographer
Mingna Liu	....	accountant
Maria Lo Orzel	....	creative consultant
Zheng Lu	....	dancer
Stanley J. Orzel	....	creative consultant
Zhang Rui	....	cashier
Zhao Shufen	....	accountant
Wu Weifeng	....	dancer
Lang Xiaowei	....	accountant
Xiaoshun Xu	....	location production assistant
Wang Yabin	....	dancer
Hong Yan	....	cashier
Li Yan	....	assistant: Ms. Zhang
Li Yanlong	....	catering assistant
Yan Yan	....	dancer
Alice Yeung	....	production coordinator
Fan Yexin	....	catering assistant
Xiao Yinqian	....	production assistant
Mao Yun	....	catering assistant
Shi Zeyi	....	production assistant
Jianmin Zhang	....	choreographer

Thanks
Philip Lee	....	special thanks
Anita Mui	....	dedicatee
Yatming Tang	....	special thanks (as Tang Yat Ming)

Production Companies

• Beijing New Picture Film Co.
• China Film Co-Production Corporation
• EDKO Film
• Elite Group Enterprises
• Zhang Yimou Studio

Distributors

• Alfa Films (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• BIM Distribuzione (2005) (Italy) (all media)
• Bazuca Films (2005) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Constantin-Filmverleih (2005) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Focus Features (non-USA)
• Highlight Film (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (all media)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (TV)
• Odeon S.A. (2004) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Odeon S.A. (2005) (Greece) (video)
• Pathé Distribution (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Canada) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Philippines) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Animal Logic (visual effects)
• Digital Pictures Iloura (visual effects)
• Menfond Electronic Art & Computer Design Company (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Arigat-Orchestra  orchestra
• Atlab  digital intermediate (as Atlab Australia)
• Atlab  digital opticals (as Atlab Australia)
• Bunkamura Studio  music recorded at
• Cinerent  camera and lighting equipment (as Cinerent Ltd.)
• Digital Pictures  digital intermediate
• Ex Ltd.  music production
• Frame, Set & Match  hi-definition mastering services
• KSS Recording Studio  music mixed at
• Negative Cutting Services  negative cutting (as Negative Cutting Services Aust. Pty. Ltd.)
• Negative Cutting Services Aust. Pty. Ltd.  negative cutting
• Optical & Graphics  graphics and subtitles
• R!ot  title design: main titles (as R!ot Pictures)
• Sony Classical  soundtrack published by
• Soundfirm Beijing Co. Ltd.  sound post-production
• Soundfirm  sound post-production
• Spectrum Films International  picture post-production facility: Australia
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities
• Studio Shanglira  music recorded at
• Victor Studio  music recorded at
• Video-8 Broadcast  rushes (as Video 8 Broadcast)
• Video-8 Broadcast  telecine transfers (as Video 8 Broadcast)

Also Known As:

House of Flying Daggers (Hong Kong: English title) (International: English title) (Singapore: English title) (USA)
Attack from Ten Directions (International: English title) (literal title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sequences of stylized martial arts violence, and some sexuality.

Runtime:

119 min | Australia:118 min

Country:

China | Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Iceland:14 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | France:U | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U | Singapore:PG (original rating) (cut) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15A (original rating) | Ireland:15 (video rating) (cut) | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | UK:15 (cut) | USA:PG-13 | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Beijing, China

Company:

Beijing New Picture Film Co.

Trivia:

It is China's official choice for the 2004 Oscar Awards, Foreign Language film category.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the ending scene when Mei tells Jin to leave, the horse he uses to depart upon has white socks on its rear legs then it has solid leg markings. It changes back and forth from markings to none on Mei's horse also.

Quotes:

Jin: [speaking to Mei] I thought you were hot as fire. In fact you're cool as water.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s'éteint et que le film commence (2007)

A feast for the senses, a fully satisfying cinematic experience.

Shi Mian Mai Fu belongs to a growing body of work that embodies a clearly Asian aesthetic packaged just as clearly for Western consumption. It is no coincidence that, each time I paused the DVD for whatever reason, the still image on the screen was as beautiful as any classic wood block print by Hiroshige or Hosukai. Xiaoding Zhao's elegant cinematography imbues every scene with haunting beauty. Think Tak Fujimoto times ten, with no disrespect meant to Fujimoto, who shoots Western movies and still manages to inject his refined visual sense into such great films as Silence of the Lambs and Sixth Sense.

Director Yimou Zhang's work in Hero was more epic, more heroic, but SMMF has a more refined sense of story. The cast, the scenery, the music, including vocal performances by the legendary Kathleen Battle; all elements conspire brilliantly to convey subtle and nuanced meaning in moments. The story, as do all good stories of this genre, revolves around a delicate interplay of love, betrayal, deception and heroism of many different kinds, and, oh yes, those stunning ballets of combat layered with evocative sounds and effects.

In a nutshell, the plot goes something like this. A beautiful blind showgirl is captured as a spy. Her captors conspire to trick her into leading them to her leader. Along the way, both hunter and quarry become entangled in a web of subterfuge and deception. Add in a beautifully tragic romantic story line, again, as all such movies must have, and never forget that the essence of all truly great tragedy is inevitability.

This movie is also known as Ambush From Ten Sides, and in that more literal translation of its title you will find its essence. A worthy successor to Hero, though not as magnificent as Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, in which Ziyi Zhang gives the performance of a lifetime and the one against all her other roles will be judged, and in this case, fall short, House of Flying Daggars is nevertheless a feast for the senses and a fully satisfying cinematic experience.