A Touch of Zen
“Visionary” barely begins to describe this masterpiece of Chinese cinema and martial arts moviemaking. A Touch of Zen (Xia nu) by King Hu depicts the journey of Yang, a fugitive noblewoman in disguise who seeks refuge in a remote, and allegedly haunted, village. The sanctuary she and her three companions find with a shy scholar is shattered when a nefarious swordsman uncovers her identity, pitting the five against legions of blade-wielding opponents. At once a wuxia film, the tale of a spiritual quest, and a study in human nature, A Touch of Zen is an unparalleled work in Hu’s formidable career and an epic of the highest order, characterized by breathtaking action choreography, stunning widescreen landscapes, and innovative editing.
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
- 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- Documentary from 2012 about director King Hu
- New interviews with actors Hsu Feng and Shih Chun
- New interview with filmmaker Ang Lee
- New interview with film scholar Tony Rayns
- Trailer
- New English subtitle translation
- PLUS: An essay by film scholar David Bordwell and notes by Hu from a 1975 Cannes Film Festival press kit
New cover by Greg Ruth
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
- 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- Documentary from 2012 about director King Hu
- New interviews with actors Hsu Feng and Shih Chun
- New interview with filmmaker Ang Lee
- New interview with film scholar Tony Rayns
- Trailer
- New English subtitle translation
- PLUS: An essay by film scholar David Bordwell and notes by Hu from a 1975 Cannes Film Festival press kit
New cover by Greg Ruth
Cast
- Hsu Feng
- Yang Hui-zhen
- Shih Chun
- Gu Sheng-zhai
- Bai Ying
- General Shi Wen-qiao
- Xue Han
- General Lu Ding-an
- Zhang Bing-yu
- Gu’s mother
- Cao Jian
- Xu Zheng-qing
- Jia Lu-shi
- Yang Lian
- Wan Zhong-shan
- Lu Qiang
- Tien Peng
- Ouyang Nian
- Wang Rui
- Men Da
- Han Ying-jie
- Xu Xian-chun
- Miao Tian
- Nie Qiu
- Roy Chiao
- Abbot Hui-yuan
Credits
- Director
- King Hu
- Written by
- King Hu
- Based on a story from Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio by
- Pu Song-ling
- Presented by
- Sha Yung-fong
- Cinematography by
- Hua Hui-ying
- Additional cinematography by
- Zhou Ye-xing
- Editor
- King Hu
- Set design by
- Zou Zhi-liang
- Set design by
- King Hu
- Art director
- Chen Shang-lin
- Music by
- Wu Da-jiang
- Action choreography by
- Han Ying-jie
- Action choreography by
- Pan Yao-kun
- Assistant director
- Miao Tian
Trailer for A Touch of Zen
