Legend of the Mountain (DCP)

(Shan zhong zhuan qi, King Hu, Taiwan/Hong Kong 1979, 184 min., DCP)

Few directors in the history of world cinema have so masterfully bridged the gap between the visceral energy of the action genre and the contemplative depth of classical art as King Hu. A multifaceted director who frequently produced, edited, and designed his own sets and costumes, Hu transformed the wuxia (martial arts) film from a studio-bound commodity into a vehicle for existential inquiry and Buddhist transcendence.

In Legend of the Mountain (1979), Hu moves away from the frantic swordplay and acrobatics of his earlier hits to craft a hypnotic, three-hour supernatural odyssey. Set during the 11th-century Song Dynasty, the film follows a young scholar, Ho Yunqing (Shih Chun), who is tasked with translating a Buddhist sutra powerful enough to release the souls of the dead. As he retreats to a remote, abandoned fortress in the mountains to complete his work, he finds himself ensnared in a web of spirits, seduction, and sorcery.

Filmed on location in the scenic countryside of South Korea, Hu utilizes the natural environment, such as swirling fog and golden sunlight, to mirror the shifting boundaries between the physical world and spiritual realms. Eschewing the rapid-fire editing of his groundbreaking Dragon Inn or A Touch of Zen, here Hu adopts a more tranquil pace, punctuated by bursts of vibrant colors and percussion-driven rituals. A culmination of Hu’s artistic and philosophical achievements, this restored masterpiece is a dreamlike journey that invites the viewer to lose themselves in its picturesque landscape.

Introduction by and post-screening discussion with Selznick student Ha Nguyen.