Using sex as a selling point for genre cinema is no new thing to Asian audiences, just look at pink eiga for the perfect example. China and Korea also have movements of film-makers and stars that fit into this tradition. But in the 1990s a fissure opened with the harder stuff opting for the pornographic and the lighter stuff disappearing altogether, the Pink film has become the preserve of cult cinema. While in no way is Vietnamese hit [The] Lady Assassin a return to this tradition, Terracotta’s newest release is a campy reminder the erotic martial arts films of the 1970s.
Out in the remote Vietnamese mountains there is a brothel ran by four Women, each plays their role before killing them taking their gold, but only if they are affiliated with the local warlord Quan Du (Thai-Hoa Le). Think prostitute versions of Robin Hood only they keep the gold for themselves. After director Quang Dung Nguyen reveals the murderous edge of these women, they open a casket full of gold and a woman Linh Lan (Tang Thanh) bound and gagged. Initially she is taken as a hostage before she finally becomes one of the group, being trained up to help them achieve their goal of getting revenge of Quan Du. As a premise it doesn’t quite hang together, but it is an interesting premise nonetheless. The Lady Assassin isn’t as black and white as that synopsis makes it seem, with character motivation developing with the arc having enough twists and turns to keep things interesting.
Although we don’t get the treatment in this edition, The Lady Assassin was filmed as a 3D film. The 3D treatment is minimal, with the only additions coming from the balls they’ve adapted as weapons – beautiful women kicking 3D balls how that is for symbolism? The rest of the martial arts use similar flamboyance with wires being used to make the actions of Tang Thanh Ha, Thanh Hang, Ngoc Quyên, Kim Dung and Diem My more exciting. While there will always be an appeal seeing beautiful women doing martial arts, the action here is the same basic brand that allowed Keanu Reeves to say, ‘I know Kung-Fu’. As ever non-martial artists doing martial arts is scrapes by as adequate, here it’s brightened only by the sumptuous costume design and the women themselves.
Under all the banners, the one thing that is present throughout is that Quang Dung is using sexuality as a weapon, hence the opening account of Pink Eiga. For a label that has distributed some of the most unabashed attempts to put busty women in ridiculous situations (Big Tits Zombie 3D), The Lady Assassin is remarkably tame, in fact flirtatious would be a more fitting description.
This leaves drama and character interaction to save the day. At one point in the script it is stated that this faux-brothel started 10 years ago, with the newest member joining 7 years ago. And while the script isn’t the best, the one thing you do believe about these women is that they live for each other and would equally die for each other. Believing such an audacious plan may be hard work, but at the very least we can buy these characters within this world, as people with hopes, fears and dreams. By extension the climax is immeasurably elevated through this connection and the culmination of the films twisty narrative.
The Lady Assassin cannot be described as a good martial arts film, nor could it fit the sexy lineage its international promo campaign is targeting. While far from good, this is not a bad film. Quang Dung Nguyen’s and Terracotta’s latest is the perfect late night film, the sort of film that Netflix and video rentals live(d) for. Campy, colourful and a feast for the eyes, this is a welcome distraction from a martial arts market that is taking itself more and more serious by the year.
The Lady Assassin (2013) is out now on Terracotta Distribution.
Filed under: Home Releases, Third Window
