Film | Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Cost: free; Registration in advance recommended

Set in Qing dynasty China, this sweeping romantic drama chronicles the chase for the stolen sword of destiny. Ang Lee’s ravishing masterpiece not only introduced the wuxia martial arts genre to American audiences but also elevated it to new heights of sophistication. You’ll never forget the graceful, gravity-defying action scenes choreographed by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping. The story expertly weaves between adventure, action, drama, and romance thanks to a star-studded cast including Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun-fat.

Writing in the New York Times in 2023, Brandon Yu credited Lee with “taking B-movie pulp and transforming it into a tragic fable, a feminist story of repression, a heartbreaking love story and a technically groundbreaking action blockbuster.”

Director: Ang Lee (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, United States). Released: 2000. Length: 120 min. Format: DCP. Language: Mandarin with English subtitles.

Image courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

You may also like the following events from Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art:

• This Friday, 5th September, 07:00 pm, Film | Kung Fu Hustle in Washington
• This Sunday, 7th September, 03:30 pm, Film | In the Mood for Love + In the Mood for Love 2001 in Washington
• Next Wednesday, 10th September, 02:00 pm, Film | Sansho the Bailiff in Washington

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