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Original Title: 十面埋伏 Directed by: Zhang Yimou Written by: Li Feng, Wang Bin, Peter Wu, Zhang Yimou Cinematography: Zhao Xiaoding Music by: Shigeru Umebayashi Country: China, Hong Kong Genres: Drama, Romance, Action, Adventure Duration: 119 min Release Dates: 19 May 2004 (Cannes), 16 July (China), 11 Sept. (TIFF) Filming Dates: 11 September 2003 – December 2003 Filming Locations: China (Chongqing, Beijing), Ukraine Synopsis: During the reign of the Tang dynasty in China, a secret organization called “The House of the Flying Daggers” rises and opposes the government. A police officer called Leo sends officer Jin to investigate a young dancer named Mei, claiming that she has ties to the “Flying Daggers”. Leo arrests Mei, only to have Jin breaking her free in a plot to gain her trust and lead the police to the new leader of the secret organization. But things are far more complicated than they seem. -IMDb

Zhang Ziyi Xiao Mei

Takeshi Kaneshiro Jin

Andy Lau Leo

Dandan Song Yee

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House of Flying Daggers China Trailer

1:45 min   |   1259 views

House of Flying Daggers Teaser Trailer

1:00 min   |   1303 views

House of Flying Daggers HK Trailer

1:45 min   |   1325 views

House of Flying Daggers – Japan Trailer 1

1:20 min   |   1369 views

House of Flying Daggers – Japan Trailer 2

1:46 min   |   1221 views

House of Flying Daggers – Japan Trailer 3

2:06 min   |   1380 views

House of Flying Daggers – Korea Trailer 1

0:59 min   |   1327 views

House of Flying Daggers – Korea Trailer 2

1:39 min   |   1310 views

House of Flying Daggers International Trailer

1:56 min   |   1287 views

House of Flying Daggers Trailer

1:43 min   |   1500 views

• Zhang Yimou conceived the story in the late 1990s as a companion to Hero (aka Hero).
• This was originally going to be Anita Mui’s final appearance in film and she had already accepted the role but, because she was battling cervical cancer, her part wasn’t going to be filmed until early 2004. After her death on 30 December 2003, director Yimou Zhang decided to alter the script rather than find a replacement. Anita’s name will still be listed in the credits.
• Zhang Yimou has said that he will rewrite the screenplay to remove Anita Mui’s character following the veteran star’s death. This is meant to be a sign of respect for Mui. It was earlier reported that Michelle Yeoh or Brigitte Lin would be cast instead.
• To prepare for her role, Ziyi lived with a blind girl for two months. The blind girl became blind at the age of 12 because of a brain tumor.
• Concerned that Western audiences would not be able to tell Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro’s apart in the beginning of the film as they are dressed similarly, Zhang Yimou had Kaneshiro’s character eat peanuts throughout many of the opening scenes to distinguish them.
• The climactic fight scene was filmed in the Ukraine. It snowed so early (October) that it caught the filmmakers by surprise, as they had already started filming. They decided to change the script and the movie so that it would appear almost as if this epic battle began during the fall and ended during winter. Zhang Yimou was very happy with how it turned out because it set the perfect tone and obviously highlighted the blood spilled on the snow.
• The scene in the bamboo forest is very common in Chinese martial arts movies. Zhang Yimou felt that he had to stay in that tradition and added the scene in the bamboo forest.
• The literal English translation of the Chinese title is “Ambushed From Ten Directions”.
• It is China’s official choice for the 2004 Oscar Awards, Foreign Language film category.
• The song that Mei sings that begins with, “A Rare Beauty in the North” is actually an ancient poem set to music. It was written by the brother of an Imperial Concubine about his sister. Meant as a cautionary tale to the Emperor about overindulgence in female beauty at the same time it acknowledged the lasting hurt of a powerful love. —IMDb
• Ziyi sings herself the song “A Rare Beauty in the North” in the film. She also did a live performance of the song for the premiere ceremony in Beijing.

Nominations: 1st China Film Billboard Award (Most Popular Actress), 1st China Film Directors’ Guild Awards, 58th BAFTA Film Awards, 14th MTV Movie Awards (Best Fight), 5th BOP Calvin Awards (8th), 5th Cinemarati Film Awards (5th), 31st Saturn Film Awards, 28th Hundred Flowers Awards