Li Mubai, an accomplished Wudang swordsman, tries to leave his warrior life and to live out a normal life with his beloved, but ends up seeking out a disciple to transmit his knowledge. Jen, the beloved daughter of a governor, chases after a carefree life living on the jianghu and roaming the country. Still, she ends up rejecting her mentor Jade Fox’s request to run away together. Such ironic themes are rampant in the film, but Ang Lee neatly resolves all these issues by the end of the film. In the process, he uses the irony to emphasize the role and value of ambition in the Chinese culture.
As the storyline unfolds, we discover the underlying theme of self-identity. Li Mubai’s attempt to pass off his sword demonstrates his desire to return to a normal, civilized world. Although unstated, it can be inferred that his long felt passion for Shu Lien persuades him to leave the warrior world for one in which both of them can finally live out their dreams. Jen shows up, however, with his beloved sword and distracts him from his goals. Likewise, Jen pursues her freedom wandering around jianghu, but the appearance of the sword causes her to realize her true potential and the inability of Jade Fox to lead her as her teacher, thus leading to her refusal to follow up with her objective.
Interestingly, this single sword that changes the paths of so many people remains deceptively innocent throughout the film as a result of its inability to retain bloodstains. Thus, on the surface the Sword of Green Destiny seems to be blameless with its clean blade, yet in reality it is the root cause of the destruction of so many characters’ dreams. Again, Ang Lee injects irony into his film to portray a Chinese culture that’s more than just fight scenes. He utilizes these ironic moments to show that even though people may regard such movies as just another wuxia film, there is in fact much more meaning behind all the fighting and the deaths. All the characters have a dream, and they fight one another as a means of achieving these goals.
Wrapping up his project, Ang Lee kills off his characters one by one. In these deaths, he allows them to carry on with their original aspiration that they each had. Li Mubai dies in his loved one’s arms, and finally succeeds in expressing his love for her and was able to remain in her arms for the rest of his life. Jen finally finds the freedom she is searching for, as she floats through the clouds in the final suicide scene. Lee completes his film with a strong finishing blow to seal his characters into their fates, all the while suggesting the pursuit of personal ambitions as an underlying theme of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”
It seems that Ang Lee does not only appeal the Asian audience with his approach using the theme of ambition but he also appeals to the Western audience in the introduction to Chinese culture in the film. Definitely the wuxia or martial art theme of the movie is the major attraction for those going to watch the movie. The smooth movement, almost like a dance, of the actors and actresses when fighting cannot be found anywhere else before. Although this type of fighting is popular in Chinese and HongKongnese dramas, it was not introduced to the west until the release of this film.
ReplyDeleteA part of the film which I think was put in the film mainly for western attraction is the intimate scene between Jen and Lo. It is very rare to see this type of scene in traditional non-Hollywood budgeted Chinese movie. Was it necessary to have it? Maybe, since it seems that in western society, true love is only shown this way. For Chinese people, it probably was an impact since they are pretty reserve about that topic.
I agree with Jacky that this film appeals to the Western audience. Wuxia was not really known in the West so it was a huge hit when Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon came out. I feel that this movie is more appealing to the western audience rather than the Asian audience because it is nothing new for the Asian audience.
ReplyDeleteAnd the point about the intimate scene between Jenn and Lo is very interesting, Jacky. I was thinking similar thoughts when i was watching the film.
I never thought about it while watching the movie, but you bring up a good point about the sword and it's innocence. Although it was said that it killed many people and caused much bloodshed, it never seemed to be blamed for any of it.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, many people in this movie chased after this ancient sword in search of their dreams or goals. Jen, in her search of freedom, Yu Shu Lien, in hope of protecting her loved one's honor, and even Li Mu Bai, in his search for his life's purpose. It is interesting to think of all the lives the Green Destiny unnoticeably affected.