A Touch of Zen

A Touch of Zen

  • Director: King Hu
  • Writer: King Hu,Songling Pu
  • Countries of origin: Taiwan, Hong Kong
  • Language: Mandarin
  • Release date: November 18, 1971
  • Sound mix: Mono
  • Aspect ratio: 2.35 : 1
  • Also known as: Ein Hauch von Zen
  • "A Touch of Zen" is jointly produced by Hong Kong International Film Co., Ltd. and Taiwan United Film Industry Co., Ltd., directed by King Hu , Shih Chun , Feng Hsu , Wang Jingchun , Roy Chiao , Zhang Ping; Zhang Tuanzhen , Sammo Hung , Billy Chan , Action movies starring Han Yingjie , Ching-Ying Lam and others   . The film was released in Hong Kong, China on November 18, 1971.
    The film is based on the novel "A Touch of Zen" of the same name in " Strange Tales from a Lonely Studio " written by Pu Songling . It tells the story of Yang Huizhen's confrontation with Dongchang with the help of scholar Gu Shengzhai   .

    Details

    • Release date November 18, 1971
    • Filming locations Taroko National Park, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Production companies Golden Harvest Company, International Film Company, Lian Bang

    Movie reviews

     ( 105 ) Add reviews

    • By Everett 2022-12-30 19:15:50

      short comment

      In terms of art, the small scenes are rich and substantial, but the large scenes are not wide enough, which makes people feel very suffocated. The color is full and comfortable.

      In terms of photography, light and shadow break the stage sense brought by the limitations of art. Saved the film's many ills. The use of rain and wind is soothing.

      There are too many places where the plot is illogical.

      In terms of casting, the male protagonist has a wretched face and disgusting...

    • By Abe 2022-12-19 12:15:29

      chivalrous woman

      The story of "Chivalrous Girl" comes from "Strange Tales from a Liaozhai". The original work is only a few thousand words, and it was expanded by Hu Jinquan into a masterpiece of nearly three hours. The adaptation of the script should be said to be very successful: Hu Jinquan likes to read the "History of the Ming Dynasty", so he put the background of the story of "Chivalrous Girl" into the Ming Dynasty that he is familiar with; after arranging the chivalrous woman as a loyal minister...

    • By Maymie 2022-12-18 03:50:05

      Houses, bamboo forests, and incomprehensible monsters

      In Hu Jinquan's films, traditional Chinese literature and art are indispensable, from the palace city to the house, from the landscape to the gods.
          The strong culture is interesting, which is an important aspect that attracts me.


          The first half is Yang Huizhen after Zhongliang, who was chased and killed by the officials, and the group destroyed the enemy.
          The scholar said that Zibuyue was strange and confused, and as a result, he did it... The two factions...

    • By Bo 2022-12-16 07:49:42

      "Chivalrous Girl" is short in love, tenderness and righteousness

      No matter how good the film's artistic and technical effects are, I still think that the rhythm of Master Hu's film is a bit slow. The opening shot is very immersive and very long. There are three main scenes in the whole film, "Abandoned Tun Fort", "Rocky Land", and "Bamboo Forest". "Abandoned Tun Fort" is really a bit of Pu Songling's taste. If "Mountain and Rock" captures the majesty of Chinese martial arts, then "Bamboo Forest" captures the indomitable spirit of Chinese...

    • By Beulah 2022-12-14 05:17:53

      chivalrous woman

      The day before yesterday, I watched "The Heroine".
      Yesterday was Nanook of the North.

      I thought it was a boring movie, not suitable for people in a room to watch together,
      but it unexpectedly attracted everyone.
      "The Heroine" is in color, I thought it was black and white.
      Strangers in the small town, the story begins. Full of fascinating.
      The technology seems to be pretty rough now, and the story is not old.

      But what I feel most deeply is the...

    User comments

      ( 69 ) Add comments

    • By Everett 2023-09-20 07:32:26

      The English name is too accurate. Very well made. I haven't seen a portrait like that in years. . . General Shi is...

    • By Alberto 2023-09-17 04:28:36

      Evening photography should be borrowed from onibaba Casting is a bit of a...

    • By Cassandre 2023-09-04 18:50:00

      It seems to be introduced by the teacher in the Chinese film history class, very Hu...

    • By Letha 2023-08-15 15:34:58

      [Wuxia Film Festival 4K Restoration Edition] There are so many surprises that some roughness and problems in the design of the mirror movement and the rhythm of the story are less conspicuous. Surprisingly, there are a lot of interesting psychological analysis parts. The filming of Bamboo Forest is really amazing, and the negative effect at the end is very good. Hu Jinquan will still play like this. Compared with the chivalrous girl with the Chinese title, the English title A Touch of Zen is...

    • By Annette 2023-08-13 15:52:23

      The ending is a bit of a...

    Movie plot

    During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, Gu Xingzhai opened a painting and calligraphy shop to serve as a senior citizen. Young girl Yang Zhiyun lived in the abandoned castle not far away. Ouyang from the East Factory came to take a peek a few years ago and saw Yang Zheng Xu Gu with his own body; he broke into the door, and Yang drove him away with a knife. After Yang Zhiguan’s mansion wanted her, she explained her true identity to...
    more about A Touch of Zen Movie plot

    Behind the scenes gags

    Due to the unsatisfactory box office, King Hu edited a three-hour international version and sent it to the Cannes Film Festival in 1975. The English subtitles of the film were proofread by King Hu's assistant Xu Anhua   .
    Due to King Hu's harshness, Feng Hsu was more afraid than happy after hearing that he was selected as the female number one of "A Touch of Zen". "A Touch of Zen" was filmed for four years and was scolded for the first...
    more about A Touch of Zen Behind the scenes gags

    Evaluation action

    The passage in "A Touch of Zen" where the heroine Feng Hsu swoops down from the bamboo shoots can be regarded as an outstanding special effect design and lens editing in martial arts movies, and even influenced the subsequent "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" "Ambush on Ten Sides" (Jinan Times Review)
    "A Touch of Zen" is a perfect combination of martial arts theme, drama aesthetics and oriental thinking. The character setting and...
    more about A Touch of Zen Evaluation action

    Movie quotes

    • Ku Shen Chai: Have you seen Miss Yang, the lady who lives here?

      General Shih Wen-chiao: No, I'm blind.

      Ku Shen Chai: Forgive me.

      General Shih Wen-chiao: Miss Yang and her mother are gone.

      Ku Shen Chai: She said you should run for your life too. Do you know where she went?

      General Shih Wen-chiao: No.

      Ku Shen Chai: I have to find her!

      [Shih pulls out a sword as two soldiers fly down from the sky and attack, but are quickly killed in a few brief strokes of the sword]

      Ku Shen Chai: Mr. Shih, Mr. Shih, who are you really?

      General Shih Wen-chiao: I'm not blind, that's for sure.