Director Kao Pao-shu’s Lady with a Sword is a perfect example of a revenge film done right. Led by the fabulous Lily Ho, the film is Shaw Brothers Wuxia at its finest. The type of film that its action set pieces that meld perfectly with its morally complex plot to give us elevated entertainment in less than 90 minutes.
When Fei-Fei (Ho) sister is murdered and the only witness is her sister’s young son, she has no choice but to seek vengeance. Under the disguise of a man, Fei-Fei learns that the one who murdered her sister is her betrothed. As Fei-Fei executes her vengeance, the ever-widening circle of complications arises as families get involved. Though with unimaginable choices, her betrothed family finds there is only one choice to save their son: getting rid of Fei-Fei.
Lady with a Sword excellent example of a screenwriter, Kuang Ni, taking a simple revenge tale and adding the sort of palace intrigue complexities that elevates it beyond is origins. Yes, the film could have been a straight-ahead revenge film – we’ve seen Shaw Brothers do it countless times before – but caring enough to make this film unique beyond its female led beginnings is what separates it from the norm.
Though that is not to say this is a stately drama with moral themes that are played out over the runtime. Kao Pao-shu’s film is an action picture first and foremost and delivers upon that promise. The action is clean and concise, and of the era, like any Wuxia picture. As it’s the early 70s, there is a fair amount of blood at play and harder impacts, thanks in large part to Bruce Lee’s presence in the era.
All in all, Lady with a Sword is smarter than your average martial arts revenge picture. One where the female-led isn’t just a gimmick but central to the story they are telling.
The Transfer
The High-Definition transfer provided by Celestial Pictures is another fine example of their restoration work on the Shaw Brothers Catalog. The beautiful widescreen image has nary a scratch or defect through the run time.
The Extras
They include the following;
Audio Commentary by David West
Stills Gallery
The Audio Commentary by David West begins with his bonafides before diving into the various titles and why it was changed for Western Audiences. Some of the details include the lack of information of the location where the film was produced but two distinct possibilities; a discussion of the personal and professional history the director of the film Kao Pao-shu – the first female director to direct a wuxia film; the film landscape at the time when the film that was released in 1971 – including a discussion of the various directors and films themselves; a discussion of screenwriter Kuang Ni and various other projects he worked on oftentimes without credit – some 200 films he worked on; the cliché / convention in wuxia films of women dressing as men and how excepted it is; a discussion of the professional and personal career of star Lily Ho – including some of the films she appeared in; the action choreography here and also where the industry was at the time when this apart of the new wave of wuxia films; a discussion of the history of use of the Peaking Opera training; a larger discussion of gender swap films which this is a part of – and how those films do not just extend to wuxia films but to other genres as well; a discussion of the Swordswoman in Chinese films and literature – including examples, the actresses who portrayed them, and even in different countries (e.g., Japan, China, etc.); how some of the troupes are leaned into and defied in this film; a fashion label that uses director Kao Pao-shu as its name; a larger discussion of the cultural touchstones and approach to the film from a female perspective; a larger discussion throughout about the various cast members that appear and the various films they appeared in other than Lady with a Sword; and much more.
Stills Gallery (2:32) – the still gallery consisting of production stills plays over the soundtrack from the film. The gallery can be paused and navigated using your Blu-ray remote.
The Final Thought
88 Films continues to release arresting Shaw Brothers titles. Recommended!!
After her sister is killed Lady with a Sword finds revenge a complicated thing. New to Blu-ray from 88 Films.
The Film
Director Kao Pao-shu’s Lady with a Sword is a perfect example of a revenge film done right. Led by the fabulous Lily Ho, the film is Shaw Brothers Wuxia at its finest. The type of film that its action set pieces that meld perfectly with its morally complex plot to give us elevated entertainment in less than 90 minutes.
When Fei-Fei (Ho) sister is murdered and the only witness is her sister’s young son, she has no choice but to seek vengeance. Under the disguise of a man, Fei-Fei learns that the one who murdered her sister is her betrothed. As Fei-Fei executes her vengeance, the ever-widening circle of complications arises as families get involved. Though with unimaginable choices, her betrothed family finds there is only one choice to save their son: getting rid of Fei-Fei.
Lady with a Sword excellent example of a screenwriter, Kuang Ni, taking a simple revenge tale and adding the sort of palace intrigue complexities that elevates it beyond is origins. Yes, the film could have been a straight-ahead revenge film – we’ve seen Shaw Brothers do it countless times before – but caring enough to make this film unique beyond its female led beginnings is what separates it from the norm.
Though that is not to say this is a stately drama with moral themes that are played out over the runtime. Kao Pao-shu’s film is an action picture first and foremost and delivers upon that promise. The action is clean and concise, and of the era, like any Wuxia picture. As it’s the early 70s, there is a fair amount of blood at play and harder impacts, thanks in large part to Bruce Lee’s presence in the era.
All in all, Lady with a Sword is smarter than your average martial arts revenge picture. One where the female-led isn’t just a gimmick but central to the story they are telling.
The Transfer
The High-Definition transfer provided by Celestial Pictures is another fine example of their restoration work on the Shaw Brothers Catalog. The beautiful widescreen image has nary a scratch or defect through the run time.
The Extras
They include the following;
The Audio Commentary by David West begins with his bonafides before diving into the various titles and why it was changed for Western Audiences. Some of the details include the lack of information of the location where the film was produced but two distinct possibilities; a discussion of the personal and professional history the director of the film Kao Pao-shu – the first female director to direct a wuxia film; the film landscape at the time when the film that was released in 1971 – including a discussion of the various directors and films themselves; a discussion of screenwriter Kuang Ni and various other projects he worked on oftentimes without credit – some 200 films he worked on; the cliché / convention in wuxia films of women dressing as men and how excepted it is; a discussion of the professional and personal career of star Lily Ho – including some of the films she appeared in; the action choreography here and also where the industry was at the time when this apart of the new wave of wuxia films; a discussion of the history of use of the Peaking Opera training; a larger discussion of gender swap films which this is a part of – and how those films do not just extend to wuxia films but to other genres as well; a discussion of the Swordswoman in Chinese films and literature – including examples, the actresses who portrayed them, and even in different countries (e.g., Japan, China, etc.); how some of the troupes are leaned into and defied in this film; a fashion label that uses director Kao Pao-shu as its name; a larger discussion of the cultural touchstones and approach to the film from a female perspective; a larger discussion throughout about the various cast members that appear and the various films they appeared in other than Lady with a Sword; and much more.
Stills Gallery (2:32) – the still gallery consisting of production stills plays over the soundtrack from the film. The gallery can be paused and navigated using your Blu-ray remote.
The Final Thought
88 Films continues to release arresting Shaw Brothers titles. Recommended!!
88 Films Blu-Ray edition of Lady with a Sword is out now
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