Movie Review: A Chinese Ghost Story (倩女幽魂) 1987 Version

This was one of the Hong Kong movie classics that was released at around 1987, based on the stories written by the author Púsōng líng （蒲松龄） in his "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" compilation (聊齋志異)whose first volume was first published at around 1680 (though may be as late as 1705). These stories are popular for their incredible imagination that is based on folklore concerning ghosts, monsters and demons that is familiar to many of his contemporary audience; but what really made them shine and truly unique anywhere in the world at the time was the humanisation of these ghastly creatures. He was probably the first Chinese author to humanise these inhuman entities and demonise humans. He was centuries ahead of his time.

The Chinese name of the story "倩女幽魂" loosely translated means "Ghost of an Elegant Girl." The main female lead is a spirit that was captured by an evil Tree Spirit and forced to use her female charms to lure unsuspecting men so that the Tree Spirit can devour their living energy. Her love interest is a naive traveling scholar who resisted her sexual advances in their first meeting and was saved because of it.

The formula to the movie was a rather classic one, girl meets boy, fall in love and girl sacrifices herself to save boy but boy enters hell to save girl. But even by today's standard (especially since how Hong Kong is now perennially shooting sub-par movies that satisfies the lowest common denominator) the movie was exquisitely executed.

The two leads will always be remembered for their role in this movie (even if the male lead had a FAR more successful career as a singer and he will be best remembered in the critically and internationally acclaimed: "Farewell, My Concubine" ), the acting was good and the casting brilliant. The soundtrack from the movie was also more than memorable. The theme song: "Dawn, please don't come" (黎明不要來） is soul wrenching, the last time I watched this movie was 16 years ago and I can still recall the chorus line ”不許紅日!“ (don't you dare red sun!, or red sun I don't give you permission) when I was reminded of this movie. The last scene with the tearful girl disappearing under the red light of dawn with this song playing in the background was close to perfection for 1980's cinematography.

I often wondered why Hong Kong can't or won't make movies like this anymore - this story had everything: depth, profoundly satirical, a strong script, plenty of Chinese martial arts action scenes (though many Western audiences find it over the top), monsters and a touching love story. It was timeless.

Personally this film will shame almost all recent solely Hong Kong productions with the obvious exception of Infernal Affairs (aka 無間道, aka The Departed）. Otherwise if you're looking for quality Chinese language movies go to the mainland.

I'm also very excited that they've remade this movie (A Chinese Fairy Tale) under the same Chinese name with big names coming from both Mainland and Hong Kong. The female lead's acting ability is rather questionable but this role is perfect for her in the way that Keanu Reeves was perfect to play the emotionless alien in "The Day the Earth Stood Still". We will see.

Edit 1: I originally said that the male lead (Leslie Cheung) had a more successful career as an singer, but I was mistaken in that he also stared in the Cannes Grand Prix winning(before there was a Golden Palm award) movie "Farewell, My Concubine."