Fong Sai Yuk (1993)

English titles: The Legend of Fong Sai-Yuk; The Legend.

Synopsis: In a Chinese village, a land owner tries to buy every property, thus garnering the dislike of the population. Fong Sai Yuk, a young villager, meets a beautiful young woman and falls in love with her without knowing that she is that land owner's daughter. A tournament is being held by the land owner the winner of which will win his daughter's hand in marriage. Every contestant must fight against the land owner's wife, who is an eximious kung fu fighter. Sai Yuk signs up but lets her win because he doesn't know the real identity of the promised bride. Sai Yuk's mother decides to sign up too, so that she can restore the family's honor; she fights in male disguise, and wins, but the land owner's wife falls in love with her. Sai Yuk's father is a member of the resistance against the Manchu emperor, and soon they will all be chased by the emperor's allied governor.

Appraisal: This is not the lavish epic I was expecting, but a comedy in the same primitive, puerile mold which became a trademark of Hong Kong cinema. One aspect of it that drew my attention is the active role which women play in fights.

Rating: 36