Brotherhood of Blades
| Brotherhood of Blades | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Lu Yang |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Han Qiming[1] |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Nathan Wang[1] |
Release date |
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Running time | 106 minutes[1] |
| Country | China[1] |
| Language | Mandarin |
| Budget | CN¥30 million |
| Box office | CN¥93.37 million[2] |
Brotherhood of Blades (绣春刀) is a 2014 Chinese wuxia film directed by Lu Yang.[3] Set in 17th-century China during the Ming dynasty, the story follows three jinyiwei officers who are ordered to hunt down the treacherous court eunuch Wei Zhongxian and his faction. Starring Chang Chen, Cecilia Liu and Wang Qianyuan, the film was released in China on August 7, 2014.[3]
A sequel, Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield, was released in China on July 19, 2017.
Synopsis
In 1627, the newly enthroned Chongzhen Emperor is determined to eliminate corruption in the Ming government, so he removes the influential court eunuch Wei Zhongxian from power and sends him to Fengyang to keep watch over the Ming Ancestors Mausoleum.
Lu Jianxing, Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan are three sworn brothers serving in the jinyiwei, the Ming government's secret police. Lu Jianxing, known for being loyal and honest, strives to get promoted. Years ago, Shen Lian had fallen in love with Zhou Miaotong, who had been sold to a brothel, and he hopes to buy her freedom. Jin Yichuan, who suffers from tuberculosis, is harassed by his senior Ding Xiu, who knows a secret about his background.
While Wei Zhongxian is en route to Fengyang, Eastern Depot supervisor Zhao Jingzhong receives an order from the Chongzhen Emperor to kill Wei. He handpicks Lu Jianxing, Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan to carry it out. They catch up with Wei Zhongxian and his escorts at an inn in Fucheng. While Lu Jianxing and Jin Yichuan are fighting the escorts, Shen Lian meets Wei Zhongxian, who offers him money in exchange for sparing him. Tempted by the thought that he can finally buy Zhou Miaotong's freedom, Shen Lian accepts Wei Zhongxian's offer and helps the eunuch fake his death. Shen Lian's decision will ultimately bring disaster to his two brothers-in-arms.[4][5]
Cast
- Chang Chen as Shen Lian
- Cecilia Liu as Zhou Miaotong
- Wang Qianyuan as Lu Jianxing
- Ethan Li as Jin Yichuan
- Nie Yuan as Zhao Jingzhong
- Chin Shih-chieh as Wei Zhongxian
- Ye Qing as Zhang Yan
- Zhou Yiwei as Ding Xiu
- Zhu Dan as Wei Ting
- Zhao Lixin as Han Kuang
- Ye Xiangming as the Chongzhen Emperor
Production
The story of Brotherhood of Blades was written by directors Lu Yang and Chen Shu.[1] The script was already completed by the time Yu's debut feature My Spectacular Theatre was released in 2010.[1] The film received funding only after Chang Chen had committed to the role of Shen Lian.[1] The film received CN¥30 million (US$5 million) from China Film and was shot in 67 days.[1]
Release
Brotherhood of Blades was released on August 7, 2014, in China.[1] Derek Elley of Film Business Asia wrote that the film was shown "with relatively little fanfare and a poor marketing campaign that harmed its box office in a strong field".[1] At the end of its run, the film has earned CN¥90 million (US$14 million) in China.[6]
The film was shown at the Busan International Film Festival in October 2014.[7]
Reception
Derek Elley of Film Business Asia gave the film an eight out of ten ratings, calling it a "Top-notch martial-arts drama boasts a meaty script and performances to match" and "the most satisfying Chinese wuxia movie since Reign of Assassins"[1]
Film and arts writer Philippa Hawker of Sydney Morning Herald gave the film 4.5 out of 5, praising the movie as "a gripping, entertaining martial arts drama in which the cut-and-thrust of the narrative is as important as the swordplay action. It's a film of plot twists and turns and moral ambiguities punctuated with combat scenes, an ensemble piece with strong performances and an involving storyline."[4]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Best Actor | Chang Chen | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Chin Shih-chieh | Nominated | ||
| Best Editing | Zhu Li Yun, Tu Yi Ran | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design | Liang Ting Ting | Won | ||
| Best Action Design | Sang Lin | Nominated |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Elley, Derek (22 September 2014). "Brotherhood of Blades". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- ^ "绣春刀 （2014）". cbooo.cn (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2014-12-08.
- ^ a b 绣春刀 (2014). movie.douban.com (in Chinese). douban.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ a b Hawker, Philippa (4 November 2014). "Brotherhood of Blades review: Ming Dynasty musketeers on a mission". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ^ Mark, Adams (7 October 2014). "Brotherhood Of Blades". Screen Day. Archived from the original on 2021-07-18. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ Kevin Ma (12 August 2014). "Witch tops second weekend in China". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ Ma, Kevin (6 September 2014). "China Lion picks up Breakup Buddies". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- ^ Kim, June (23 November 2014). "The 51st Golden Horse Awards Nominations Announced". MTime News. Archived from the original on 2019-06-09. Retrieved 2014-11-23.