Miss Times

Tea with Sugar - Liane Bedard

Canadian, b. 1958 -

House of Flying Daggers (2004) - Dir. Zhang Yimou

Wuxia films tend to be very hit and miss for me personally, but Zhang Yimou's 2004 film “House of Flying Daggers” holds a special place in my heart. From the beautiful vibrancy of it's cinematography and the mystical elegance of the choreography, to the purely magical soundtrack by Shigeru Umebayashi, House of Flying Daggers is a delectable feast of sounds and visuals.

There are too many scenes that merit discussion in this film, Mei's graceful dance to the beauty song in the Peony Pavilion, the echo game, and the battle in the bamboo forest are but a small handful. But as is my recent focal point; sword fights in cinema, I want to discuss the final duel in the snow between Leo and Jin. And how this duel in particular is a tangible counterbalance to that of Inigo Montaya and the Man in Black's duel from Rob Reiner's 1987 film “The Princess Bride” that I touched up on in my last post.

The duel between Inigo and the Man in Black is playful theatre littered with charm and respect. Leo and Jin's duel in comparison is saturated with betrayal, and laced with fury. These aren't two masters smiling across blades, they're brothers in arms undone by love and jealousy. It's a duel where friendship erodes, and respect curdles into rage and desperation.

To begin with, the scene is surrounded by serene woodland, giving us a stunning kaleidoscope of autumnal colours. Though the striking colour palette is soon enough stripped to stark contrasts by a white-out of thick snowfall. The transition of the weather during the battle mirrors the transformational dynamic of the fight, from measured dexterity to exhausted recklessness. Every swing and every blow is personal, and we feel the emotional weight behind them all. This duel would seemingly endure an eternity if their bodies allowed it.

This final struggle – two men locked in combat and grief – is particularly devastating because it rejects the clean narrative resolution of many cinematic duels. Nobody wins ...apart from us, because it's a juicy cherry on top of an already delicious visual experience.

Unknown - Daniel Ablitt , 2025.

British , b. 1976 -