Zhang Yimou: House of Flying Daggers

Zhang Yimou's House of Flying Daggers was the second major film he directed after Hero. The film has some concepts similar to those in Hero. Zhang Yimous uses a common theme of everday people becoming great heroes. Both films speak about a rebel/rebellion against the emperor. Another major theme within each of the films is the idea that love always prevails.

In the film two policemen decide to infiltrate the "House of Flying Daggers" in order to weed out there new master. Jin takes Mei into the forest in order to help her find the House of Flying Daggers. Along the way they are attacked by Jin's own police guards in order to confuse Mei. In the end they discover many things about each other and eventually the two policemen fight for Mei's love.

The link is only a Wikipedia article. It talks about major themes in the film along with aspects of genre. The plot of the film and information about Zhang Yimou is also explained.

House of Flying Daggers

In the article that I found, the director of Hero, Zhang Yimou, gives an interview on his latest film, House of Flying Daggers. Also in this interview Yimou answers questions pertaining to the censorship and criticism that he has faced for making many of the movies he is known for. With the People's Revolution, Chinese film directors have faced censorship by the governement, therefore restricting what they can show in Chinese culture. Many films are now more marketed towards Western audiences. Another point that he makes is how the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon affected the success of his films. Yimou also answers the question as to why his films usually feature strong female leads.

Your films always feature strong female leads.
Yimou:The feudal system that has existed in China for 2000 years is very suppressing to women, and so it is very interesting to see a woman who tries to break the mould. And the women in my films often personify a deeper allegorical meaning.