Ashes Of Time Redux

Ashes Of Time was originally distributed in 1994 and then re-edited and re-released as Ashes Of Time Redux.  I have not seen the original film but as this version was assembled by Wong himself it is safe to assume that it is the one the director wants us to see.

Loosely based on Louis Cha’s modern adaptation of "Eagle-Shooting Heroes", an ancient series of Chinese martial-arts tales, it is an elliptical and at times opaque film (artistically speaking some would use the term “poetic”), albeit one which is, thanks to Christopher Doyle’s unique cinematography, further manipulated in post-production, visually superb.  

Of course, this point of view is that of Westerner unfamiliar with Chinese history and culture and as such Ashes Of Time Is not a film that gives up its meaning/s easily, if at all. Dividing the narrative according to the four seasons and in turn the symbolic significance of these in the Chinese Almanac, it tells the story of Ouyang Feng (Leslie Cheung), an assassin for hire and some of his clients and other swordsmen he hires to complete his jobs for him.  Much of the martial arts aspect of the film is photographed with blurred imagery and this is not likely to satisfy fans of the “wuxia” genre looking for the usual spectacular stunts

Indeed much of the film operates on a purely symbolic level. Thus one of the main episodes involves Ouyang’s relationship with Murong Yin (Brigitte Lin) and male alter ego, Murong Yang (Lin again), both of whom want to hire him to kill their other half.  Another strand involves a woman who wants Ouyang to avenge her village on a band of marauding bandits but only has a basket of eggs with which to pay him.

Probably the most accessible of the film's themes is that of  lost or unrequited love. Ouyang regrets abandoning a woman who subsequently married his brother, Tony Leung turns up as a Blind Swordsman, yearning to see again the peach blossom in his village. Intrigued, Ouyang eventually goes there only to discover that “Peach Blossom” is the name of a woman.

Apparently the making of Ashes Of Time was so exhausting for Wong that he took time out to make another film, Chunking Express. And it took him another 14 years to complete this definitive version.  The result is a dense and intensely personal film that depends on extra-textual .knowledge to signify more than the broad strokes.

Despite the opacity, there is a distinct Spaghetti Western feel lurking beneath the gorgeous visuals, not a little thanks to Frankie Chan and Roel Garcia’s Morricone-ish score and it is surprising that some Hollywood producer hasn’t turned it into more conventional fare.

 

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