Once Upon a Time in China
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Theatrical Screenings
Muranów
Kinoteka 3
Online Availability
Additional Materials
Film description
In the late 19th century, China is undergoing major changes under the influence of Western imperialism. Modernisation is rapidly displacing tradition, threatening local identity. This worries Wong Fei-hung (Jet Li), a martial arts master who trains members of the local militia at his school in Foshan. Yee, meanwhile, returns to the city from Britain, deeply influenced by Western ways of life. A romance blossoms between her and Wong, but cultural differences stand in their way. The city faces problems of its own: local gangs and unscrupulous foreigners threaten to exploit the country. Will kung fu be enough when guns are turned against the protagonists?
Tsui Hark returned to the historical figure of Wong to create an epic film exploring the values of Chinese nationalism. In pursuit of his vision, Tsui replaced the cinematographer five times. The effort paid off: Once Upon a Time in China was a huge success and is now regarded as one of the most important films in the genre. The ladder fight sequence has gone down in cinema history, while Jet Li’s performance launched him on the path to stardom. The film spawned five official sequels.
text:
Marcin Krasnowolski
Tsui Hark
A Hong Kong filmmaker of Vietnamese descent, he was born in 1950 and is widely regarded as one of the most versatile and influential figures in the history of popular world cinema. His first three films, considered landmark works of the Hong Kong New Wave, were not box-office hits, but they continue to astonish with their inventiveness and wealth of influences. It was only when Hark turned to commercial filmmaking that he truly demonstrated the full extent of his abilities, quickly establishing himself as a leading figure in mainstream cinema. From 1984 onwards, he also shaped the careers of key directors and actors, and above all actresses, as a producer. Many of them have since gone on to achieve international success. Thanks to his boundless energy and constant drive to explore new forms of cinematic expression, Hong Kong cinema developed a distinctive identity that helped turn it into a compelling export. Tsui Hark now works primarily in the Chinese film industry, making big-budget blockbusters.
1979 Zabójcze motyle / Dié Biàn / The Butterfly Murders
1980 Niebezpieczne spotkania pierwszego stopnia / Di yi lei xing wei xian / Dangerous Encounters of the First Kind
1984 Shànghǎi zhī yè / Shanghai Blues
1986 Kaczka po pekińsku / Dāo Mǎ Dàn / Peking Opera Blues
1989 Mistrz / Huang Fei Hong jiu er zhi long xing tian xia / The Master
1991 Dawno temu w Chinach / Wong Fei Hung / Once Upon a Time in China
1991 Bankiet / Hao men ye yan / The Banquet
1995 Ostrze / Dao / The Blade
1995 Chińska uczta / Gam yuk moon tong / The Chinese Feast
2005 Siedem mieczy / Qī Jiàn / Seven Swords
2011 Latąjace miecze ze Smoczej Bramy / Lóng Mén Fēi Jiǎ / Flying Swords of Dragon Gate
2021 Chángjīn hú / The Battle at Lake Changjin
2022 Chángjīn Hú zhī Shuǐmén Qiáo / The Battle at Lake Changjin II
