The film is so subtle and slow and internalised that it crystalises into a thing of beauty.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

The film is so subtle and slow and internalised that it crystalises into a thing of beauty.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Every cinematic trick in the book to make Hero's violence as sexy as a car commercial

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Every cinematic trick in the book to make Hero's violence as sexy as a car commercial

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

This may be one man’s story but the themes are epic.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

This may be one man’s story but the themes are epic.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

As well as having an eye for the dramatic – such as yards of cloth tumbling from a height or flames licking up a wall – Yimou also has a way of conveying the emotion of a scene with incredible brevity.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

As well as having an eye for the dramatic – such as yards of cloth tumbling from a height or flames licking up a wall – Yimou also has a way of conveying the emotion of a scene with incredible brevity.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The film's use of location as narrative drive is endearing, binding the strong heroine to her surroundings.

~ Scott Macdonald -

The film's use of location as narrative drive is endearing, binding the strong heroine to her surroundings.

~ Scott Macdonald -

Kwan aptly probes the boundaries between reality and fiction that were so paper thin during Ruan’s own life.

~ Dean Bowman -

Kwan aptly probes the boundaries between reality and fiction that were so paper thin during Ruan’s own life.

~ Dean Bowman -

Shakespearian, dynastic tragedy on an operatic scale

~ Max Crawford -

Shakespearian, dynastic tragedy on an operatic scale

~ Max Crawford -