Oath of Brotherhood

Director: Peter Chan

Starring: Jet Li, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Jing Lei Xu

Genre: Action, Drama

Region: Hong Kong, China

Running Time: 90 minutes

Release Date: December 12, 2007

Plot Summary

In the autumn of 1870, Eldest Brother (played by Jet Li), dressed in official robes, overlooks the stage for his inauguration ceremony from atop the city wall. Filled with ideals and grand ambitions, if he hadn't embarked on this irreversible path, he might have been one of the revolutionaries to overthrow the corrupt Qing Dynasty and establish a new China, leaving behind a legacy of greatness. Unfortunately...

Two bandits and a woman changed his life forever, contributing to both his success and eventual downfall. These two bandits were his sworn brothers who had vowed to share life and death together: Second Brother (played by Andy Lau) and Third Brother (played by Takeshi Kaneshiro). The woman was Second Brother's wife, Liansheng (played by Jing Lei Xu).

Second Brother is an upright and straightforward hero who, amidst the chaos of the times, became a bandit leading hundreds of men in raids across the land. He adheres to a code of honor even as a thief, leaving "three out of ten" for the villagers he robs from, ensuring their survival. The spoils are then shared with the good villagers living in the same mountain village as him, earning him widespread respect. Throughout his life, Second Brother loves two people most: Liansheng and Third Brother, whom he took under his wing as a bandit at the age of thirteen after the latter became an orphan. He regards Third Brother as a younger sibling.

Third Brother possesses a unique charm that combines the wildness of a wolf and the cold ruthlessness of a killer with the innocence and romance of youth. Thus, the bond of brotherhood, forged through life-and-death experiences, becomes the eternal emotion he holds dear. After Eldest Brother was injured while shielding Third Brother during a raid on a Taiping Heavenly Kingdom supply convoy, Third Brother felt immense gratitude for saving his life. His innate fervor led him to revere Eldest Brother more than even Second Brother.

After their mountain village was ravaged by Qing troops, suffering heavy casualties, Third Brother strongly advocated for the three of them to swear brotherhood, urging Eldest Brother to lead them into service for the Qing court. To avoid disappointing Third Brother and to prevent his fellow villagers from being trapped in a desperate situation, Second Brother set aside personal gain and willingly ceded his leadership position to Eldest Brother.

As a good brother in the world of men, Second Brother is a failed lover and an inadequate husband in the world of women. His intense masculinity lacks the romantic allure that captivates women. His wife, Liansheng, however, is a romanticist who believes in love at first sight. Despite Second Brother rescuing her from being sold as a young prostitute in Yangzhou and his efforts to care for her, his illiteracy and lack of scholarly refinement fail to win her true affection.

To realize his ideal of a peaceful era without war, Eldest Brother, with the help of his brothers Second Brother and Third Brother, formed the "Mountain Camp" to temporarily serve the Qing court, originally intending to build military strength by fighting against the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. However, as he gained more power, Eldest Brother became increasingly ambitious, seeking to eliminate all obstacles. He did not hesitate to break ties with Second Brother, ordering the massacre of Taiping soldiers who had surrendered under Second Brother’s persuasion, fearing a potential rebellion. He exploited Third Brother's fervent nature, persuading him to side with him.

At one point, Eldest Brother was just a step away from achieving success. However, his actions deeply wounded Third Brother, who revered him immensely. During the grand inauguration ceremony, at the peak of his power and glory, Eldest Brother met a sudden and violent end at the hands of an assassin...