The screening on 15 July will be introduced by Prof Chris Berry (KCL).

One of the defining works of Tsui Hark’s extraordinarily prolific early career, Peking Opera Blues showcases the director at his most inventive and exuberant. Blending action, comedy, period drama, and political satire, the film pays tribute to the Peking opera tradition that profoundly shaped Tsui’s cinematic imagination.

Anchored by an iconic trio - Brigitte Lin in a role that helped inaugurate her celebrated androgynous screen persona, Cantopop star Sally Yeh, and beloved Hong Kong screen legend Cherie Chung - the film dazzles with its kinetic energy, visual spectacle, and unforgettable opera-house set pieces. The screenings are presented in the stunning restored version.

Set in Beijing in 1913, amid the turmoil of the emerging Chinese Republic, the film brings together three women from vastly different backgrounds: Tsao Wan, the rebellious daughter of a warlord; Bai Niu, an aspiring Peking opera performer; and Sheung Hung, a street-smart sing-song girl. Drawn into a conspiracy involving secret documents that could alter the nation’s future, the trio embark on a whirlwind adventure of disguises, romance, and revolutionary intrigue, forging an unlikely sisterhood along the way.

Supported by the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office London.

Cast:
Brigitte Lin, Cherie Chung, Sally Yeh