Shi mian mai fu (2004)

Director:

Yimou Zhang

Writers:

Feng Li (writer)
Bin Wang (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

14 January 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Plot:

A romantic police captain breaks a beautiful member of a rebel group out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Dancer | China | Police Officer | Tragedy

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 16 wins & 36 nominations

Cast

Takeshi Kaneshiro	...	Jin
Andy Lau	...	Leo
Ziyi Zhang	...	Xiao Mei (as Zhang Ziyi)
Dandan Song	...	Yee
Hongfei Zhao	...	Performer
Jun Guo	...	Performer
Shu Zhang	...	Performer
Jiusheng Wang	...	Performer
Zhengyong Zhang	...	Performer
Yongxin Wang	...	Performer
Dong Liu	...	Performer
Qi Zi	...	Performer
Xuedong Qu	...	Performer
Liping Tian	...	Performer
Hongwei Zhao	...	Performer
Weina Huang	...	Performer
Dan Ge	...	Performer
Xiadong Yang	...	Performer
Yisha Shang	...	Performer
Ying Liu	...	Performer
Jingwen Huang	...	Performer
Keija Zhang	...	Performer
Tianyou Luo	...	Performer
Lin Zhu	...	Performer
Jiwei Hu	...	Performer
Yu Hong	...	Performer
Bojie Hao	...	Performer
Jiajun Zhu	...	Performer
Ge Xu	...	Performer
Jingxiu Chou	...	Performer
Cuifang Guo	...	Performer
Chengyuan Li	...	Performer
Shuo Zhang	...	Performer
Jidong Zhang	...	Performer
Qiang Li	...	Performer
Yang Fu	...	Performer
Yang Guang	...	Performer
Yang Wen	...	Performer
Liang Chen	...	Performer
Xiuqiang Lin	...	Performer
Kun Wang	...	Performer
Meng Li	...	Performer
Ming Dong	...	Performer
Xiaodong Zheng	...	Performer
Chacha Song	...	Performer
Xuanyi Wang	...	Performer
Xueying Huang	...	Performer

Directed by
Yimou Zhang

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Feng Li		writer
Bin Wang		writer
Yimou Zhang		writer

Produced by
William Kong	....	producer
Weiping Zhang	....	executive producer
Yimou Zhang	....	producer
Zhenyan Zhang	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Shigeru Umebayashi

Cinematography by
Xiaoding Zhao

Film Editing by
Long Cheng

Production Design by
Tingxiao Huo

Art Direction by
Zhong Han		(supervising art director)
Bin Zhao

Costume Design by
Emi Wada

Makeup Department
Siu-Mui Chau	....	chief hair stylist (as Chau Siu Mui)
Lee-na Kwan	....	chief makeup artist (as Lee Na Kwan)
Shui Niu	....	assistant hair stylist
Yang Ruo	....	assistant makeup artist
Ge Xiufang	....	assistant makeup artist
Xiaohai Yang	....	chief makeup artist
Diu Zhijuan	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Tianhui Ge	....	unit manager
Larissa Khaliapina	....	unit manager: Ukraine (as Larysa Khalyapina)
Jane Maguire	....	post-production supervisor
Wenhua Ma	....	assistant production supervisor
Lu Sen	....	unit manager
Huang Xinmin	....	assistant production supervisor (as Huang Xinming)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Xiaoyang Chang	....	assistant director

Art Department
Huo Depeng	....	assistant property master
Yi Ho	....	property master (as Yi Hou)
Zhongquan Hu	....	set dresser
Mu Ke	....	assistant property master
Bao-Tai Li	....	assistant property master (as Li Baotai)
Miao Li	....	assistant art director
Shaochun Liu	....	special props
Marco Nero	....	matte painter
Guo Hong Sheng	....	assistant property master
Ming Wu	....	assistant art director
Xiaolong Xu	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Steve Burgess	....	sound effects editor
Chris Goodes	....	sound editing assistant
Alex Gordon	....	adr recordist
Cao Huijun	....	location sound assistant
Vic Kaspar	....	sound editor
Jo Mion	....	sound editor
Damon Mouris	....	sound mixer assistant
Andrew Neil	....	re-recording mix assistant
Andrew Neil	....	sound effects editor
Glenn Newnham	....	sound editor
Zeliang Niu	....	location sound assistant
Paul Pirola	....	sound effects editor
Roger Savage	....	sound mixer
Roger Savage	....	sound re-recording mixer
Roger Savage	....	sound supervisor
Blair Slater	....	foley recordist
Jing Tao	....	sound
Mario Vaccaro	....	foley artist
Zhigang Zhang	....	first sound assistant
Gina Nuccio	....	additional adr editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Lindsay Adams	....	digital compositor
Charlie Armstrong	....	digital compositor
Vaughn Arnup	....	digital compositor
Mark Barber	....	digital compositor
Jason Billington	....	digital compositor
Roger Bolton	....	digital compositor
David Booth	....	visual effects
Kent Boswell	....	visual effects production manager: Fuel
Dan Breckwoldt	....	digital compositor
Andy Brown	....	visual effects supervisor
Paul Buckley	....	animator: Digital Pictures Iloura
Sam Cole	....	compositing supervisor: Fuel
Chris Davies	....	digital compositor
Jonathan Dixon	....	digital liaison
Clinton Downs	....	digital artist
Bryn Farrelly	....	digital compositor
Siggy Ferstl	....	digital intermediate colorist: Digital Pictures
Morgane Furio	....	Inferno compositor
Darrin Hanley	....	digital compositor
David Hansen	....	CG artist
Mick Harkin	....	digital compositor
Mark Harmon	....	digital grading
Jason Hawkins	....	video operations technician
Jamie Hediger	....	digital compositor
Alwyn Hunt	....	texture artist: Animal Logic
Michelle Hunt	....	digital compositor
Bhakar James	....	senior animator: Animal Logic
Krista Jordan	....	senior compositor
Angie Lam	....	visual effects supervisor
Stefan Litterini	....	digital artist: Animal Logic
Ineke Majoor	....	visual effects producer
Keith Meure	....	rotoscope artist
Kirsty Millar	....	visual effects supervisor: Animal Logic
Naomi Mitchell	....	visual effects producer
Nick Monton	....	digital compositor
Nick Monton	....	digital intermediate supervisor: Digital Pictures
David Mosqueda	....	digital compositor
Nick Murphy	....	video operations technician
Mark Nettleton	....	senior compositor
Matthew North	....	digital compositor
Jongsu Oh	....	digital artist: Animal Logic
Murray Pope	....	visual effects executive producer
Glen Pratt	....	digital compositor
Paul Raeburn	....	digital compositor
Danielle Rubin	....	visual effects production manager
Evan Shipard	....	digital matte painter/compositor
Nathan Stone	....	animator
Robert Sullivan	....	video operations supervisor: Animal Logic
Paul Taylor	....	video operations technician
Ian Watson	....	visual effects artist
Peter Webb	....	digital compositor
Eddy Wong	....	visual effects supervisor: Mendfond
Victor Wong	....	visual effects supervisor: Mendfond
Bryce Brecheisen	....	visual effects coordinator (uncredited)

Stunts
Xia Bin	....	stunts
Zhan Bo	....	stunts
Chuanyong Cheng	....	stunts
Ou Chengwei	....	stunts
Shi Feng	....	stunts
Zhong Feng	....	stunts
Xiang Gao	....	stunts (as Gao Xiang)
Fei Goa	....	stunts
Cao Hua	....	stunts
Li Lei	....	stunts
Zhu Shaojie	....	stunts
Li Wei	....	stunts
Zheng Xin Xin	....	stunts
Hu Yan	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Xiaoyan Bai	....	still photographer
Guan Fei	....	camera grip
Xu Tie Gong	....	electrician
Huangpu Honghao	....	generator operator
Jianmin Ji	....	lighting designer
Raymond Lam	....	Steadicam operator
Raymond Lam	....	camera operator
Raymond Lam	....	director of photography: "b" unit
Wang Liam	....	camera grip
Sun Xin Shang	....	electrician
Cao Shuiqiang	....	electrician
Cao Tongan	....	electrician
Lihong Wang	....	gaffer
Li Xuebo	....	electrician
Jiandong Yu	....	electrician
Huilong Zhu	....	camera grip
Jin-Di Zhu	....	assistant camera (as Zhu Jindi)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bao-Rong Huang	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Huang Baorong)

Editorial Department
Leo Bahas	....	negative matcher
Olivier Fontenay	....	film and digital color grader
Alan Hansen	....	digital colorist
Bin Li	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Mark Franken	....	music editor

Other crew
Xu Aidong	....	production assistant
Xu Bin	....	second production assistant
Amealy Go Chan	....	massage therapist
Cynthia Chang	....	assistant: Mr. Kaneshiro
John Charles	....	software engineer: Sony DAC
Siu-Tung Ching	....	action choreographer
Julian Chiu	....	second production assistant
Zhao Danian	....	production assistant
Yexin Fan	....	catering assistant
Ni Guanche	....	second production assistant
Li Haoxue	....	catering assistant
Zhang Hui	....	interpreter
Du Jian	....	second production assistant
Wenrui Jia	....	caterer
Zheng Jie	....	dancer
Du Jin	....	interpreter
Gao Ke	....	production assistant
Xiaowei Lang	....	accountant
Cai Li	....	martial arts coordinator
Qiang Li	....	choreographer
Mingna Liu	....	accountant
Maria Lo Orzel	....	creative consultant
Zheng Lu	....	dancer
Stanley J. Orzel	....	creative consultant
Zhang Rui	....	cashier
Zhao Shufen	....	accountant
Jianguo Wang	....	second production assistant
Yabin Wang	....	dancer
Wu Weifeng	....	dancer
Yinqian Xiao	....	production assistant
Xiaoshun Xu	....	location production assistant
Hong Yan	....	cashier
Li Yan	....	assistant: Ms. Zhang
Li Yanlong	....	catering assistant
Yan Yan	....	dancer
Alice Yeung	....	production coordinator
Mao Yun	....	catering assistant
Shi Zeyi	....	production assistant
Jianmin Zhang	....	choreographer

Thanks
Philip Lee	....	special thanks
Anita Mui	....	dedicatee
Yatming Tang	....	special thanks (as Tang Yat Ming)

Production Companies

• Beijing New Picture Film Co.
• China Film Co-Production Corporation
• EDKO Film
• Elite Group Enterprises
• Zhang Yimou Studio

Distributors

• Focus Features (2004) (non-USA) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Bazuca Films (2005) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Constantin-Filmverleih (2005) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2004) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Pathé Distribution (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• BIM Distribuzione (2005) (Italy) (all media)
• Canvas (2008) (Belgium) (TV) (first national airing)
• Highlight Film (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2006) (Thailand) (all media)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (all media)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (TV)
• Nederlandse Programma Stichting (NPS) (2008) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Odeon (2005) (Greece) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Canada) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Tayrona Entertainment Group (2005) (Colombia) (all media) (as Cinemac Films)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Animal Logic (visual effects)
• Digital Pictures Iloura (visual effects)
• Iloura (visual effects)
• Menfond Electronic Art & Computer Design Company (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Arigat-Orchestra  orchestra
• Atlab  digital intermediate (as Atlab Australia)
• Atlab  digital opticals (as Atlab Australia)
• Bunkamura Studio  music recorded at
• Cinerent  camera and lighting equipment (as Cinerent Ltd.)
• Digital Pictures  digital intermediate
• Ex Ltd.  music production
• Frame, Set & Match  hi-definition mastering services
• KSS Recording Studio  music mixed at
• Negative Cutting Services  negative cutting (as Negative Cutting Services Aust. Pty. Ltd.)
• Negative Cutting Services Aust. Pty. Ltd.  negative cutting
• Optical & Graphics  graphics and subtitles
• R!ot  title design: main titles (as R!ot Pictures)
• Sony Classical  soundtrack published by
• Soundfirm Beijing Co. Ltd.  sound post-production
• Soundfirm  sound post-production
• Spectrum Films International  picture post-production facility: Australia
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities
• Studio Shanglira  music recorded at
• Victor Studio  music recorded at
• Video-8 Broadcast  rushes (as Video 8 Broadcast)
• Video-8 Broadcast  telecine transfers (as Video 8 Broadcast)

Also Known As:

House of Flying Daggers (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
Attack from Ten Directions (International: English title) (literal title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sequences of stylized martial arts violence, and some sexuality.

Runtime:

119 min | Australia:118 min

Country:

China | Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Iceland:14 | France:U | Malaysia:U | South Korea:12 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Singapore:PG (original rating) (cut) | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15A (original rating) | Ireland:15 (video rating) (cut) | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | UK:15 (cut) | USA:PG-13 | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Beijing, China

Company:

Beijing New Picture Film Co.

Trivia:

Yimou Zhang conceived the story in the late 1990s as a companion to Ying xiong (2002) (aka Hero).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Jin saves Mei from the general's troops in the bamboo grove, he blocks four swords which are swinging toward her simultaneously. One of the blades, however, clearly gets past Jin's sword. Rather than having his attack deflected, this soldier simply stops his swing and lifts his sword away in unison with the others.

Quotes:

Jin: When can we see each other again?
Mei: We cannot. We belong to two opposing sides. If we meet again... one of us will have to die.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s'éteint et que le film commence (2007)

Soundtrack:

Beauty Song (Jia Ren Qu)

Without a doubt, Hollywood is going down...

I have never, ever seen a film that the West has ever created that can top Chinese cinema in this form, with the exception possibly being Lord of the Rings. I truly applaud Oriental taste. I can't count the number of times I have completely forgotten that I've actually got my own physical form while watching films like House of Flying Daggers, but I can count how many times that's happened during Western films: zero.

For those of you who have no taste I beg you: but aside your views on gravity-defying fight scenes and subtitles. Just remember that this is something called FANTASY. It isn't real, no matter how much you wish it to be. It's called cinema: you can do whatever the hell you like in film. I don't complain when you've got aliens that spurt out your chest. I don't complain when the dead rise from their graves. I don't complain about the lack of reason behind the ideas that aliens would have less intelligence than humans or that the living dead would harbour grudges against the really living. I complain when it just looks simply uninspiring and frankly visually boring.

So, Zhang Yimou, please bring on more heroes and flying daggers