Seven Swords (2005) Qi Jian (original title)

Director:

Hark Tsui

Writers:

Chris Chow (script translator) and
Hark Tsui
(more)

Release Date:

29 July 2005 (China)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Plot:

Seven warriors come together to protect a village from a diabolical General.

Plot Keywords:

Village | Sword | China | Martial Arts | Warrior

Awards:

3 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Chia-Liang Liu	...	Fu Qingzhu
Leon Lai	...	Yang Yuncong
Donnie Yen	...	Chu Zhaonan
Charlie Yeung	...	Wu Yuanying
Honglei Sun	...	General Fire-Wind
So-yeon Kim	...	Green Pearl
Yi Lu	...	Han Zhibang
Duncan Lai	...	Mulang (as Duncan Chow)
Liwu Dai	...	Xin Long Zi
Jingchu Zhang	...	Liu Yufang
Jason Pai Piao	...	Liu Jingyi
Kuan-Chun Chi	...	Qiu Luo Dong
Jiajia Chen	...	Kualo
Michael Wong	...	Prince Dokado (as Michael F. Wong)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yao Bai-Ling	...	Chang Yu
Bing Bo	...	Village elder
Deng Chang-Cheng	...	Da Peng
Li Chang-Hung	...	Xiao Zheng
Chen Du-Shuai	...	Martial artist
Guo Feng-Qiang	...	Black Spirit
Jiang Guang-Jin	...	San Zi
Zhang Gui-Jun	...	Xiao Si
Du Ji-Dong	...	Xiong Miao
Zhang Jie	...	Hair Wolf
Jiang Ke-Yu	...	Martial artist
Gu Kun	...	Shu Mu Zi
Chen Lan-Ji	...	Martial artist
Haitao Li	...	Si Yi Lang
Tuo Li-Ming	...	Lan Xiu Ji
Hai-Bin Lin	...	San Gen
Ming Zhe Liu	...	Jiao Ci
Jingwu Ma	...	Master Shadow Glow
Sui Meng-Zhu	...	Zhu Zhu
Huang Peng	...	Guan San Dao
Ma Qing-Zeng	...	Martial artist
Yang Shang-Lei	...	Da Hai
Ruan Tang	...	Xiao Pi
Tengfei Tang	...	Stone Beast
Wenjie Wang	...	Duke's young attendant
Chi Man Wong	...	Dagger Peak
Jie Xi-Bin	...	Ping An
Lixiao Yang	...	Girl in pool of blood
Michelle Yim	...	Luzhu (voice)
Yao Zan-Hua	...	Hao Ge
Bai Zeng-Bin	...	Sun Lao Tou
Chao Zhang	...	Zhang Hua Zhao
Xie Zhang	...	Bald Lion
Liu Zhen-Bao	...	Mud Trot

Directed by
Hark Tsui

Writing credits
Chris Chow		(script translator)
Chi-Sing Cheung
Tin Nam Chun
Yusheng Liang		novel "Seven Swordsmen from Mountain Tian"
Hark Tsui

Produced by
Chi-Sing Cheung	....	associate producer (as Chzung Chi-Sing)
Sung Goh	....	associate producer
Bong-Chui Hong	....	executive producer
Lee Joo-Ick	....	producer
Zhong-Jun Ma	....	producer
Woo Ming-Yat	....	associate producer
Nansun Shi	....	executive producer
Hark Tsui	....	producer
Bak-Ming Wong	....	executive producer
Kam Yung-Tak	....	associate producer
Yong Zhang	....	executive producer
Pan Zhizhong	....	producer

Original Music by
Kenji Kawai

Cinematography by
Kwok-Man Keung

Film Editing by
Angie Lam

Production Design by
Zhanjia Yang

Art Direction by
Eddy Wong

Costume Design by
Shang Li-Ya

Makeup Department
Kei Chi-Wai	....	makeup artist
Kwok King-Ha	....	makeup artist
Tam Ying Kwan	....	hair stylist
Cheung Lai	....	makeup artist
Yun-Ling Man	....	key makeup artist
Liu Qiu-Ju	....	hair stylist
Shi Run-Ling	....	makeup artist
Hengxia Zhang	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Nai Liang Chi	....	assistant production manager
Fung Chi-Wai	....	production manager
Leo Lai	....	assistant production manager
Jane Maguire	....	post-production supervisor
Han Xin-Li	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chi-leung Chan	....	first assistant director
Eugenia Lai	....	fourth assistant director
Wai-Tak Law	....	second assistant director
Ho-Bon Mak	....	third assistant director (as Mai Haobang)

Art Department
Chak Wing Cheung	....	property master
Daai Foon	....	props
Ngai Gwok-Fong	....	props
Ming-Shan Li	....	props
Jing-Ping Liu	....	set dresser
Wa Shu-Gin	....	props

Sound Department
Steve Burgess	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Burgess	....	supervising sound editor
Chris Goodes	....	sound editor
Chris Goodes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Wei He	....	sound mixer
Vic Kaspar	....	sound editor
Chung Wai Leung	....	sound
Chung-hau Leung	....	sound
Jiajia Mok	....	sound effects editor
Ye Shu	....	sound effects editor
Blair Slater	....	foley recordist
Terry Tu	....	foley artist
Mario Vaccaro	....	foley artist
Gavin Myers	....	sound effects editor (uncredited?)

Visual Effects by
Grant Adam	....	technical director: Digital Pictures
Karen Ansel	....	visual effects consultant
Dan Ashton	....	film recording technician: Weta Digital
Nick Booth	....	film recording supervisor: Weta Digital
Paul Buckley	....	lead 3D animator
Alan Fairlie	....	lead 2D compositor
Bryn Farrelly	....	digital compositor
Daniel Fotheringham	....	animator: Iloura
Wayne John Haag	....	lead matte painter
Gene Hammond-Lewis	....	wire/rig removal
David Hampton	....	film recording technician: Weta Digital
Darrin Hanley	....	digital compositor
Mick Harkin	....	digital compositor
Dominic Hellier	....	rotoscope artist (as Domenic Hellier)
Jack Ho	....	visual effects on-set supervisor
Ineke Majoor	....	visual effects producer
Florian Martin	....	consultant technical director: Digital Pictures, Melbourne
Glenn Melenhorst	....	digital artist: Iloura
Keith Meure	....	rotoscope artist
Robert Nicol	....	digital compositor
Matt Omond	....	compositor
Matthias Reiche	....	visual effects
Ole Dieter Sturm	....	compositor
Kim Tobin	....	digital compositor (as Kim Worrall)
Peter Webb	....	visual effects supervisor
Pete Williams	....	digital imaging manager: Weta Digital
Jason Wilson	....	visual effects artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Sai-Tang Chan	....	action choreographer
Kim-Fai Che	....	action choreographer
Kwok-Ping Choi	....	action choreographer
Wai Lun Fung	....	action choreographer
Wing-Kin Lau	....	action choreographer
Ching Kwok Leung	....	action choreographer
Chia Yung Liu	....	action choreographer
Chia-Liang Liu	....	action director
Wei Tung	....	action choreographer
Chunsong Wang	....	action choreographer (as Ma Wan)
Chi Man Wong	....	action choreographer
Xin Xin Xiong	....	action choreographer

Camera and Electrical Department
Wai-Nin Chan	....	gaffer
Sung Fai Choi	....	director of cinematography: second unit
Sung Fai Choi	....	lighting technician
Tsoi Kubbie	....	assistant camera
Herman Yau	....	grip
Kee Wing Yau	....	gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Shirley Chan	....	assistant costume designer
Nyan Chong	....	assistant costume designer
Wing-Yan Poon	....	assistant costume designer
Sam Suet-Fan	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
George Awburn	....	on-line editor
Pamela Hammond	....	head of post-production
Rachel Knowles	....	post-production coordinator
Stanley Lopuszanski	....	colorist
Tony Poriazis	....	digital film recordist
Charlie Wong Wing Fung	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Ross Cockle	....	score remix engineer

Other crew
Felice Bee	....	publicist
Oli Laperal Jr.	....	equipment coordinator
Fun-Nai Lee	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Beijing Ciwen Digital Oriental Film & TV Production Co. (presents)
• Boram Entertainment (in association with)
• City Glory Pictures Ltd. (in association with)
• Film Workshop (production)

Distributors

• Mandarin Films Distribution Co. (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• A-Film Distribution (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Contender Entertainment Group (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• Eng Wah Cinema (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Mediacorp Raintree Pictures (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2005-2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Weinstein Company, The (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Deltamac Entertainment (2005) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Dragon Dynasty (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Hong Kong Legends (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2006) (Thailand) (all media)
• Les Films Séville (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2005) (Italy) (all media)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2005) (Romania) (all media)
• RTL Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL7)
• SBP (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• SBP (2007) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Switzerland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Digital Pictures Iloura
• Iloura (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Kodak (Hong Kong) Ltd.  film supplied by
• Cinevex  film processing
• Digital Pictures  digital intermediate
• Hang Wan Cinematic Equipment Rental  camera equipment provided by
• Hang Wan Cinematic Equipment Rental  grip and lighting equipment
• Hippopotamus Films  English language production
• Mandarin Laboratory (International) Ltd.  subtitles
• Showreel Film Facilities  ADR recording
• Soundfirm Beijing Co.  sound post-production
• Soundfirm  sound post-production

Also Known As:

"Qi Jian" - Hong Kong (original title)

Runtime:

153 min | Singapore:141 min (cut)

Country:

Hong Kong | China | South Korea

Language:

Mandarin | Korean | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG (edited version) | Singapore:NC-16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Norway:15 | Ireland:15A | Germany:16 | Malaysia:18SG | Argentina:16 | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Xinjiang, China

Company:

Beijing Ciwen Digital Oriental Film & TV Production Co.

Trivia:

The opening film of the 2005 Venice Film Festival.

Movie Connections:

References Once Upon a Time in China II (1992)

A true Masterpiece !!!

All the negative critics read on this site just gave me a big laugh... This truly masterful film of Tsui Hark contains more powerful scenes than the majority of the films I've seen in these last five years. When I read somewhere someone even daring to say that this film has not any soul and depth, I wanted to cry... How can anyone neglecting the unrelenting power coming from the magnificent visual compositions and framing and clever editing as much as the intensity of the acting performances by Donnie Yen, Sun Hong Lei, Charlie Young or Zhang Jingchu; the constant impacts on our all senses by the exhaustive scenes filled with an incredible amount of love and sensuality equally paralleled by the peace, honesty and responsibility, that are conversely also contradicted by the violence, hate and greediness. In its entire complexity of the indispensable sub-plots (that i figure are supposed to be the driving force behind the whole series) and colorful characters all the heroic themes are given more intensity and such a greatness that one would hardly find even in "The Magnificent Seven" or "Seven Samurai". The whole narrative structure and the cinematic presentation speaks volumes of the genius of Tsui Hark's that never yields to the artificial and commercial tone and appeal of Zhang Yimou's sell-out efforts. A very unusual narration is not so extraordinary as the depth of the approached themes and the emotional power of the film (due to the multiplications of the characters and sub-plots, therefore make their own space in the film, just for the inner feelings of the characters and their interactions) making "Seven Swords" one of the most intelligent and unforgettable films of Tsui Hark's career. Add to it a very reassured touches of the majestic beauty probably last seen in the films sometime in the 70's, and you have one of the essential films of the year 2005 and one of if not Tsui Hark's biggest achievement ever. If you want to see the true Wuxia film, and i mean the Wuxia as is supposed to look like in its truest form, watch this masterpiece. Don't listen to anyone who badmouths this film, they have absolutely no idea what they're talking about, and what's even more hilarious that all of their comments start with a ridiculous line how they watched many Chinese movies as if it would all of a sudden gave them any more credibility or what, they could have seen thousands and thousands of movies but it'd be absolutely pointless because many people can guarantee you that no one has seen before anything resembling the breath-taking majestic quality of "Seven Swords", this is a spiritualistic heroic movie that has more soul and depth than any movie made in the last decade or even more...

Finally to put it in a nutshell. Let me tell you that Seven Swords is a revelation for eyes of a moviegoer, a magnificent film of beauty and violence with breathtaking moments that might be stuck in your mind forever. I'm happy as you that we're possibly talking about a milestone of Chinese cinema and Tsui Hark's long career. He made what he wanted to and to tell you the truth i'm not interested in any other longer version of this movie now. It'd only spoil this otherwise absolutely perfect enough film.

"That's what the "MOVIES" are about" is the first i uttered at the end credits that had me otherwise sitting silent and speechless.