Title: The Legend of the White-Haired Maiden
Film Title: The Bride With White Hair
Year: 1993
Country: Hong Kong, China
Category: Fantasy/Adventure/Romance/Action
Language: Mandarin
Subtitles: Chinese
Duration: 85 Min
Director: Ronny Yu (Yu Ren-Tai)
Cast: Brigitte Lin (Lin Qingxia) ..... Lian Nichang
Leslie Cheung (Zhang Guorong) ..... Zhuo Yi-Hang
Francis Ng (Wu Zhenyu) ..... Male Ji Wushuang
Elaine Lui (Lui Shaoling) ..... Female Ji Wushuang
Kit Ying Lam (Lan Jieying) ..... Ho Lu Hua
Eddy Ko (Gao Xiong) ..... General Wu San-Kuei
Fong Pao (Bao Fang) ..... Master Tzu Yang
Introduction:
In the forty-third year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, the famous female bandit Yü Lo-Ch'a Lien Ni-Ch'ang and the Wu Dang disciple Chuó I-Hang disregarded their sect's grudges and fell deeply in love. As a result, they were mercilessly slandered and persecuted by their fellow disciples. After experiencing life and death, not only did their martial arts improve greatly, but their love for each other deepened as well. After Emperor Wanli passed away and Emperor Guangzong ascended the throne, he was persecuted by the treacherous eunuch Wei Zhongxian, leading to Emperor Xizong ascending the throne and taking control of the court.
At this time, Murong Chong, the secret envoy of the Jurchen and senior brother of Ni-Chang, in order to unify the wulin (martial arts community) and assist the Jurchen invasion of Central Plains, devised a plan to destroy the relationship between I-Hang and Ni-Chang, causing Ni-Chang's hair to turn white overnight and forcing her to angrily retreat to the frontier. The devoted I-Hang traveled far to the frontier to find her, during which time he suffered from Chong’s sabotage and entrapment. Fortunately, this ill-fated couple eventually resolved their past grievances and joined forces with other heroes of the jianghu (martial world) to decisively defeat the Jurchen Khan at Shanhai Pass, temporarily preventing Huang Taiji's invasion. After Emperor Xizong passed away, the new emperor Chongzhen sentenced the treacherous minister Wei Zhongxian to death, who later committed suicide. However, Emperor Chongzhen was misled by villains and sentenced the great Ming general Yuan Chonghuan to death, ultimately leading to the collapse of the Ming dynasty. In their disappointment over national affairs, I-Hang and Ni-Chang retired from the jianghu together and lived like divine lovers. Unexpectedly, the hermaphroditic leader of the Cult of Devilry, Ji Wushuang, interfered, creating misunderstandings between the two, resulting in a tragic ending. Leslie Cheung and Brigitte Lin portrayed a heart-wrenching love story in this film that blossomed but bore no fruit.
This film features an all-star cast of legendary talents. The incomparably charming Leslie Cheung plays Zhuo Yi-Hang, the rebellious and handsome elder disciple of the Wu Dang Sect, while the stunning beauty Lin Qingxia embodies Lian Ni-Chang, the ethereal and unparalleled goddess of the devilish sect. Behind the star power, the cinematographer is none other than Peter Pau, the master photographer who later won the Oscar for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Director Ronny Yu has already successfully entered Hollywood thanks to the blockbuster success of "Bride of Chucky" in 1999, ready to make waves once again.