Red Heroine: Coming Soon to a Theater Near You!

In 2003 the UCLA Film & Television Archive organized Heroic Grace, a retrospective of classic Chinese martial arts films. Opening the series was the feature-length sixth episode of the 13-part serial Red Heroine. Made in Shanghai in 1929, this episode is the earliest surviving martial arts film of the silent era.

I'm very excited to report that Devil Music Ensemble has created an original score for Red Heroine and will be performing live with the film this fall on a 29-date, cross-country tour. This is a rare opportunity to witness the roots of one of Chinese cinema's most popular genres. Check out the trailer below and mark your calendars!



Further Reading
Heroic Grace program catalog [PDF file, 6.3 MB]
Jean Lukitsh's "The Origins of Kung Fu Cinema", parts 1, 2, 3, and 4

Josephine Siao at 16

Cover of movie booklet for Red Thread Steals a Precious Box (1963)

I still remember the first time I saw Josephine Siao. Her hilarious performance as Jet Li's kung-fu fighting mom in Fong Sai Yuk (1993) made a huge impression on me. Little did I know then that Josephine was one of Hong Kong cinema's top teen idols during the 1960s and that at the age of 16 she was already a martial-arts star.

Check out this cool opening credit sequence from Red Thread Steals a Precious Box.