Ying xiong

Hero

Competition (out of competition) 2019

Towards the end of the warring states period (481–221 B.C.), China wasdivided into seven kingdoms; these different realms were engaged in a bitterconflict for supremacy. It was an age dominated by death and despair. The king of the northern province, Qin, was a particularly determined potentate, obsessed by the desire of being the leader of the greatest, most powerful empire. For years, he was the target of numerous attacks and assassination attempts on the part of his adversaries. However, there were only three of his enemies’ warriors that he really feared: Broken Sword, Flying Snow and Sky. The king promised power, riches and a private audience to anyone who succeeded in killing these three men. However, nobody even came close to claiming the booty. The king was therefore not unduly surprised when, ten years later, an enigmatic county sheriff,Nameless, arrived at his palace bringing with him the weapons of the defeated warriors.The king was particularly keen to hear how he had managed to vanquish these formidable adversaries. Nameless told the king of the many years he had spent learning the art of swordsmanship in order to face this challenge. His first battle was against Sky, whom he defeated in a furious duel; however, in order to triumph over the famous fighting duo, Flying Snow and Broken Sword, he used a weapon that was far more destructive than any sword, namely – love. Thus, he succeeded in banishing both warriors.However, no sooner did Nameless finish recounting his tale, than the king began to recite a story of his own.

by Zhang Yimou
with Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Daoming, Donnie Yen People’s Republic of China 2003 Mandarin 98’

With

Jet Li (Nameless)
Tony Leung (Broken Sword)
Maggie Cheung (Flying Snow)
Zhang Ziyi (Moon)
Chen Daoming (King)
Donnie Yen (Sky)

Crew

Director	Zhang Yimou
Screenplay	Li Feng, Zhang Yimou, Wang Bin
Cinematography	Christopher Doyle
Editing	Zhai Ru, Angie Lam
Music	Tan Dun
Sound Design	Tao Jing
Production Design	Huo Ting Xiao, Zhen Zhou Yi
Costumes	Emi Wada
Make-Up	Kwan Lee Na, Yang Shu Dong, Yang Xiao Hai
Choreography	Wai Tung
Line Producer	Philip Lee
Executive Producers	Dou Shoufang, Zhang Weiping
Producers	Bill Kong, Zhang Yimou
Co-Production	China Film Co-Production Peking Sil-Metropole Hongkong Beijing New Picture Film Peking

Produced by

Edko Films

Elite Group Enterprises

Zhang Yimou Studio Production

Zhang Yimou

Winner of numerous international awards, he is one of the most important and influential filmmakers in China. His directing debut, Hong gaoliang (Red Sorghum), won the Golden Bear in 1988. Since then, his work has featured five times in the Berlinale Competition, most recently in 2012 with Jin líng Shi San Chai (The Flowers Of War). Wo de fu qin mu qin (The Road Home) won the Jury Grand Prix and Ying xiong (Hero) the Alfred Bauer Prize. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from Boston University and, in 2012, received lifetime achievement awards from Mumbai, Marrakesh and Cairo film festivals.

Filmography

1987< Red Sorghum Codename Cougar Ju Dou Raise the Red Lantern The Story of Qiu Ju To Live Shanghai Triad Keep Cool Not One Less The Road Home Happy Times Hero House of Flying Daggers Riding Alone Curse of the Golden Flower A Woman, a Gun Under the Hawthorn Tree The Flowers of War Coming Home The Great Wall Shadow /strong> 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1997 1999 · 2000 2002 2004 2005 for Thousands of Miles 2006 2009 and a Noodle Shop 2010 2011 2014 2016 2018

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2019