Ying xiong

Hero
Towards the end of the warring states period (481–221 B.C.), China wasdivided into seven kingdoms; these different realms were engaged in a bitterconflict for supremacy. It was an age dominated by death and despair. The king of the northern province, Qin, was a particularly determined potentate, obsessed by the desire of being the leader of the greatest, most powerful empire. For years, he was the target of numerous attacks and assassination attempts on the part of his adversaries. However, there were only three of his enemies’ warriors that he really feared: Broken Sword, Flying Snow and Sky. The king promised power, riches and a private audience to anyone who succeeded in killing these three men. However, nobody even came close to claiming the booty. The king was therefore not unduly surprised when, ten years later, an enigmatic county sheriff,Nameless, arrived at his palace bringing with him the weapons of the defeated warriors.The king was particularly keen to hear how he had managed to vanquish these formidable adversaries. Nameless told the king of the many years he had spent learning the art of swordsmanship in order to face this challenge. His first battle was against Sky, whom he defeated in a furious duel; however, in order to triumph over the famous fighting duo, Flying Snow and Broken Sword, he used a weapon that was far more destructive than any sword, namely – love. Thus, he succeeded in banishing both warriors.However, no sooner did Nameless finish recounting his tale, than the king began to recite a story of his own.
by Zhang Yimou
with Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Daoming, Donnie Yen
People’s Republic of China 2003 Mandarin 98’

With

  • Jet Li (Nameless)
  • Tony Leung (Broken Sword)
  • Maggie Cheung (Flying Snow)
  • Zhang Ziyi (Moon)
  • Chen Daoming (King)
  • Donnie Yen (Sky)

Crew

Director Zhang Yimou
Screenplay Li Feng, Zhang Yimou, Wang Bin
Cinematography Christopher Doyle
Editing Zhai Ru, Angie Lam
Music Tan Dun
Sound Design Tao Jing
Production Design Huo Ting Xiao, Zhen Zhou Yi
Costumes Emi Wada
Make-Up Kwan Lee Na, Yang Shu Dong, Yang Xiao Hai
Choreography Wai Tung
Line Producer Philip Lee
Executive Producers Dou Shoufang, Zhang Weiping
Producers Bill Kong, Zhang Yimou
Co-Production China Film Co-Production Peking
Sil-Metropole Hongkong
Beijing New Picture Film Peking

Produced by

Edko Films

Elite Group Enterprises

Zhang Yimou Studio Production

Zhang Yimou

Winner of numerous international awards, he is one of the most important and influential filmmakers in China. His directing debut, Hong gaoliang (Red Sorghum), won the Golden Bear in 1988. Since then, his work has featured five times in the Berlinale Competition, most recently in 2012 with Jin líng Shi San Chai (The Flowers Of War). Wo de fu qin mu qin (The Road Home) won the Jury Grand Prix and Ying xiong (Hero) the Alfred Bauer Prize. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from Boston University and, in 2012, received lifetime achievement awards from Mumbai, Marrakesh and Cairo film festivals.

Filmography

1987 Red Sorghum 1988 Codename Cougar 1990 Ju Dou 1991 Raise the Red Lantern 1992 The Story of Qiu Ju 1994 To Live 1995 Shanghai Triad 1997 Keep Cool 1999 Not One Less · The Road Home 2000 Happy Times 2002 Hero 2004 House of Flying Daggers 2005 Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles 2006 Curse of the Golden Flower 2009 A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop 2010 Under the Hawthorn Tree 2011 The Flowers of War 2014 Coming Home 2016 The Great Wall 2018 Shadow

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2019