The Legend of Fong Sai-Yuk (1993, Hong Kong)

An interesting Hong Kong martial arts film. Fong Sai-Yuk is an impetuous young man, much skilled at martial arts. Interestingly his mother (pic, left) is every bit as skilful, a fact which comes in very useful.

A rich merchant has come to town, and to ingratiate himself with the somewhat hostile people, he stages a martial arts contest. It will be single combat against his wife, and the winner shall have his daughter's hand in marriage. [I'm not making this up.]

Sai-Yuk (played by Jet Li) hears about this and goes along, and is certain to win. However he catches sight of what he thinks is the veiled daughter, and finding her plain, purposely fails to win. In fact it is just a maid, and the daughter is actually a beautiful girl he has already met incognito, and fallen in love with.

Realising that the family honour is at stake, Sai-Yuk's Mother (most excellent performance by Josephine Siao) comes to the tournament dressed as a man, and wins. [Later on the merchant's wife sees Sai-Yuk's Mother again dressed as a man and reveals that from this moment when their legs intertwined in combat, she has been madly in love with her.]

Anyway the Mother now goes home, and Sai-Yuk himself sees her:

"Who are you?"

"I'm your Mother, Sai-yuk"

"Wow, you look like a man"

"Yeah, and I just won Tiger-Lu's hand in marriage."

"Does Dad know?"

The merchant, angered at the disappearance of two suitors comes to the house with his henchmen, and violence in mind; the only way out seems to be for Sai-Yuk to dress as a girl and pretend to be a sister, weeping with her Mother the sudden departure of Sai-Yuk.

In fact this ruse is quickly seen through, and Sai-Yuk makes his escape over the rooftops, still dressed as a girl.

Western viewers may have difficulty seeing beyond the immediate differences of the Hong Kong style of action film; but it's worth persisting; I found the two Sai-Yuk films entertaining and fun.

Also known as The Legend and Fong Shi Yu.

HF May 2003

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