Budapest Classic Film Marathon 2024: Dragon Inn

Director: King Hu

Screenplay by King Hu
Director of photography: Hui-Ying Hua
Music by Lan-Ping Chow, Ta Chiang Wu
Cast: Polly Ling-Feng Shang-Kuan, Chun Shih, Ying Bai

Programme Section "Open Archives" / Women with Swords - Action Heroines in Taiwanese Cinema / Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute

Introduction: Teréz Vincze, film critic and curator

King Hu’s first film directed in Taiwan was a massive box office hit that redefined the wuxia genre. The story is set at the time of the Ming dynasty, in the mid-15th century, where corrupt administrators in the imperial court take over, murder the war minister and despatch assassins to kill his exiled children. The titular inn is the setting for spectacular fights, reminiscent of choreographies from the Beijing Opera, between the evil murderers and the sword-wielding heroes – among them a young female knight errant – who have vowed to defend the children.

Supporting film: Gravitation
Hungarian animation, bw, 1984, dir: Ferenc Rófusz, No dialogue, 3’
Directed by Ferenc Rófusz

More information on the Budapest Classic Film Marathon's program at Uránia >>