Ashes of Time Redux

Wong Kar-wai's long-awaited new version of Ashes of Time is finally ready for Films from the South. And one who waits for something good does not wait in vain. Ashes of Time is inspired by Louis Cha's novel The Eagle Shooting Heroes from 1993. Cha is one of the bestselling novelists of the martial arts genre. The protagonist of the story is Ouyang Feng, a jilted lover. Since his mistress left him he has made a living in the desert as a contractor for swordsmen looking for work. His broken heart has made him unscrupulous and cynical. But in his dealings with friends, customers and future enemies, he slowly but surely grows conscious of his own loneliness. Ashes of time is more a state-of-mind than a story told in a conventional way. The three parallell stories are not always easy to understand completely because Wong employs frequent flashbacks. It is not a traditional martial arts movie because the director has other goals with his cinematic style. What we get is a gigantic living painting that fascinates and seduces the audience. The strong lineup of actors that include Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung also give the movie a strong carismatic feel. ls