The master of artful combat, Zhang Yimou, is ready to rebound with his next film, “Shadow.”
After the disastrous and disappointing “The Great Wall,” Yimou seems to be going back to his roots, bringing an elegantly crafted martial arts movie that we’ve seen in more of his promising projects such as “House of Flying Daggers” and “Hero.” We can definitely expect plenty of period drama and action, as Zhang brings in a reimagining of the ancient classic tale of the “Three Kingdoms.” Not to mention, the philosophical archetype of a body double.
It definitely seems to be a visually appealing experience with scenes that are gorgeously choreographed and emulate paintings. “Referred to as ‘shadows,’ body doubles have existed since ancient times,” Yimou told Venice Film Festival. “A shadow must be ready to spring into action at that critical moment when his master’s life hangs in the balance; a shadow must seamlessly meld with the real, so that true and false can’t be distinguished. Is he a man, standing in the light? Or a ghost, hiding in the darkness? Who will live? Who will die?”
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Deng Chao leads the film starring as an ailing commander and his body double. The film also stars Sun Li, Zheng Kai, Wang Qianyuan, Wang Jingchun, Hu Jun, Guan Xiaotong, and Wu Leo.
Here is the synopsis:
With SHADOW, director Zhang Yimou (HERO, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS) once again pushes the boundaries of wuxia action to create a film like no other, masterfully painting a canvas of inky blacks and grays punctuated with bursts of color from the blood of the defeated. In a kingdom ruled by a young and unpredictable king, the military commander has a secret weapon: a “shadow”, a look-alike who can fool both his enemies and the King himself. Now he must use this weapon in an intricate plan that will lead his people to victory in a war that the King does not want.
