The Fate of Lee Khan (1973) - King Hu

King Hu continues to astonish me with the way he captures interior spaces. The Fate of Lee Khan is another masterclass in dynamism, which through the use of kinetic editing and varied, distinctive camera set-ups transforms a singular space into an environment that is consistently revealing and then reinventing itself. Like Dragon Inn, this is a story rooted in collective action - there is no singular hero here but a consortium of individuals with a common goal. The Fate of Lee Khan is also structurally similar to Dragon Inn, yet it certainly differentiates itself in other ways, particularly its proclivities towards embracing the milieu intrinsic to espionage, as well as its "progressive ideas around gender. The story about a group of rebel spies, who are almost exclusively female, is a story of action. It never panders or condescends around the idea that these women have power. It is completely devoid and detached of gender normative ideas entirely, yet through the exhibition itself, the film provides an empowering display of egalitarian action.​