Kung Fu – Girl Fighter

A slightly haphazard film that nevertheless frequently achieves an intense visual grace as it weaves its discursive plot around the theme of China's need for national regeneration and rebirth, specifically through a wandering hero figure. It even foreshadows Bruce Lee's charismatic smashing of a 'No Dogs or Chinese Allowed' sign. Its uncertain period recreation is less important than its general description of a shady and manipulated world, laden with political innuendoes which are probably more intelligible to Chinese than Western eyes. It is no doubt a clue of sorts that the film was produced by a brother of Chiang Kai Shek's personal bodyguard, and hence makes (somewhat odd) use of Taiwan's military establishments, but then again it's hardly a rabid political tract. There's a superbly sensual bath-house murder scene, sadly and with ridiculous prurience cut by the censor.