Karnataka   

A treat for the eyes

House of flying daggers (English)

Director: Yimou Zhang

Cast: Zhang Ziyi, Takeshi Kaneshiro

There is a story, but it really does not matter in this breathtakingly beautiful film. Director Yimou Zhang, who earlier gave us the colour-coded Hero, brings a dream-like elegance and grace to this rather weak story of love, betrayal, honour and jealousy.

Set in 859 A.D., it is the time when the Tang dynasty is at its weakest. Rebels, who call themselves The House of Flying Daggers , fight the government; steal from the rich and give to the poor and do other piously wonderful things. The film could have been a nursery rhyme for all we cared; seduced as we are by the gorgeous visuals. Starting with the echo dance through to the mandatory bamboo fight to the climax, which was shot in Ukraine where the early snow provided the perfect contrast to red, red blood, the film is celluloid eye candy at its richest.

Mini Anthikad-Chhibber

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