Fünf Schwerter für die Freiheit (1986)

Fünf Schwerter für die Freiheit: Directed by Hark Tsui. With Brigitte Lin, Sally Yeh, Cherie Chung, Mark Cheng. The movie is set in chaotic 1920’s China, when warlords fought each other for power while Sun Yat-Sen’s underground movement tried to establish a democratic republic. The movie tells the story of three young women and two young men who are thrown together. One young woman grabs a box of jewels during the looting when one warlord takes Peking. A deserting soldier joins her, but the jewels end up at the Peking Opera. Here we meet the daughter of the head of the troupe, who dreams of being an actress. But even female roles are played by men in the opera. Soon, the daughter of the currently ruling warlord and a male agent of the democratic underground are involved.

“This is an intense action comedy from director Hark Tsui, a story set in post-Chinese Revolution of 1911 where triad members fought each other for power while Sun Yat-Senu0026#39;s underground movement tried to establish a democratic republic. Mixed into the plot are three young women, played brilliantly by Brigitte Lin, Sally Yeh and Cherie Chung. Lin plays Tsao Wan, who is the daughter of a general. Yeh plays opera actress Pat Neil and Chung plays small time thief Sheung Hung. All three get entwined within the feuding wars of two triad groups that drags them back and forth between the Royal Palace and the Peking Opera.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis film blends in action and political satire, to give you an entertaining tale of drama of sacrifice. There are some pretty intense moments as well, from scenes of gun battles to a scene of torture, courtesy of Mark Cheng and Brigitte Lin. All this put added suspense to the film that gives an intriguing aura of tough times during post-revolution China and the yearning of freedom and better lives among its Chinese subjects. Amidst all the carnage and drama is comic relief, most notably provided by Cherie Chung.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOverall, itu0026#39;s a rushed film with a lot of chaos thrown in the mix. But, itu0026#39;s pretty entertaining.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eGrade B-“