Wong Kar-wai’s Ashes of Time

‘Ashes of Time,’ directed by the internationally acclaimed Wong Kar-wai, is one of the most distinguished and elegant films made in Hong Kong. Loosely based on the vastly popular martial arts stories by the well-known and highly regarded Jin Yong, this film has been regarded by many critics as one of the most complex and self-reflexive of Hong Kong films. In the film, Wong Kar-wai has used all his resources and skills as a filmmaker to make a very different kind of martial arts film which invites a close and sustained study. This book presents in very clear and lucid terms the nature and significance of ‘Ashes of Time’, and the reasons for its being regarded by many discerning critics as a landmark in Hong Kong cinema. Dissnayake has sought to contextualize the film - to place it in its proper historical and cultural setting - and to discuss such important aspects of the film such as theme, vision, imagery, visual style, and narrative structure. In particular, this study focuses on mourning, confession, fantasy, and kung fu movies - all themes which will enable the reader to gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the film.