An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1984
Director: Eddie Fong Ling-Ching
Writers: Chun Tin-Nam, Eddie Fong Ling-Ching, Chiu Kang-Chien
Cast: Patricia Ha, Alex Man, Chang Kuo-Chu, Monica Lam, Tom Poon, Ku Feng, Wang Lai, Wong Shu-Tong

Release Date: March 24th, 2025 (UK), March 25th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 101 Minutes 10 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"a free-spirited female poet Yu (Patricia Ha, Nomad) who, frustrated by the conservative times in which she lives, refuses to behave in the ways nice young ladies are supposed to." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "HD Transfer From the Original Negative".

An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 29 GB

Feature: 24.2 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, balanced, and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background, a trailer (1 minute 13 seconds, LPCM stereo text in English and Mandarin), an archival interview with actor Alex Man (21 minutes 24 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with journalist David West, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster (limited to the first pressing), and a slipcase ((limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

A woman becomes a Taoist priest to avoid society's traditional roles.

The narrative revolves around a woman named Yu who becomes a Taoist priest so she can focus on her studies and poetry. An encounter with a ronin named Tsui Po-Hau ignites her libido. From there she becomes a courtesan who becomes consumed by carnal desires. Her unwillingness to conform and decadent behavior seal her fate.

For a post-1983 Shaw Brothers film, An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty has a lot in common with the films that they were known for. An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty has Wuxia elements, and its sex scenes are among some of the most graphic the Shaw Brothers ever made. That said, though An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty predates films like Sex and Zen and A Chinese Torture Chamber, the sex scenes are just as graphic.

Performance-wise, the cast are all great in their roles, especially Patricia Ha (On the Run), who portrays the protagonist, a libertine named Yu. She delivers a remarkable performance that perfectly captures her character's lack of boundaries when it comes to pleasure. Another performance of note is Alex Man (Tragic Hero), who portrays a ronin named Tsui Po-Hau. Though his performance relies more on physical presence than emotional depth, that does not lessen its impact.

Though the protagonist's decadent behavior is the main focal point, one should not overlook the action sequences, which are all exemplary. That said, the narrative is well-constructed, pacing is never an issue, and everything builds to a bloody finale where the protagonist is overcome by madness. Another strength is the visuals; there are many striking moments that heighten the mood. Ultimately, An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty is a captivating film that quickly draws you in and stays with you after its final image.

An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty gets a first-date release from 88 Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and an informative interview, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer