The Vengeance of the Phoenix Sisters
 
   
Director: Chen Hung-min
Year: 1968
Rating: 7.5

Though this was produced in 1968 it was shot in black and white due to budgetary restraints but it actually gives the film more of a classic look. The director is Chen Hung-min in his debut - but it is not really as a director that he gained his reputation - but as an editor of over 120 films among them One-Armed Boxer, Prodigal Boxer and General Stone - as well as a number of Brigitte Lin Weepies. But the one that he edited that clearly influences this film is King Hu's Dragon Inn, the year before this. This has King Hu written all over it. The use of strong female characters and swordswomen, the stylized and fast edited action scenes with use of trampolines, the tempo of the film building up tension slowly and then letting loose in the final section and the way the classical Chinese music and instruments are interwoven propelling the narrative. What also stands out is the way the action is filmed by the cinematographer Wong Shui-Cheung with a hand-held camera. I can't recall seeing anything like it. It is full of close-ups of the face, the feet and the swords as the camera goes in for a dramatic close-up and then pulls back. Time after time.








The story is classic martial arts revenge - except this time it is three sisters revenging the murder of their parents by three villains - Poisonous Darts, Lethal Needles and Dragon Dagger - I wish I had a nickname like that. Oddly though, they really don't use any of those weapons - this is a sword fest from beginning to end. A large amount of sword action. When the villains show up to kill the parents the father fights them off for about a ten minute duel. They also kill the mother but can't find the three small daughters who were taken off in different directions by servants. The villains go - oh well we don't have to worry about three girls do we. Ha! When they are told by their dying father to get revenge, you better go into hiding.







Fifteen years later the girls are ready for revenge - all trained in the martial arts - but with one problem  - they don't know where each other are. But like a Bollywood film, fate moves in mysterious ways. Xiu Feng (Yang Li-hua) heads out with murder in her eyes - and because her hair is pulled back under a very cool hat everyone of course takes her for a man. Even a prostitute who comes on to her. There is nothing remotely masculine about her - she is adorable. When she meets up with the other two sisters - in a lovely scene - one of them falls for her! Then it gets down to action with a very long set piece - broken up for a few minutes of hanging - and then back to it - all of which is basically 25 minutes of killing the bad guys. Nicely done. The choreography is by Kang Ming who also is the main villain. Films like this from Taiwan are a real rarity - this was great fun.