Wuxia: Swords, Honor, Myth (with Dr. Leon Hunt & Chris Hamm)

What separates a wuxia hero from a kung fu fighter—and why does that distinction shape an entire tradition of Chinese cinema? Wuxia, one of Chinese cinema's oldest genres, follows chivalrous swordswomen and wandering warriors through jianghu—a parallel world at the margins of official society. Andy Nelson is joined by film scholar Leon Hunt (Brunel University, author of Kung Fu Cult Masters) and literary scholar Chris Hamm to explore the genre across Come Drink with Me, A Touch of Zen, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Leon and Chris trace the genre's deep literary roots, the centuries-old tradition of female warriors, and how the philosophical concept of jianghu connects wuxia to Hong Kong crime films and beyond. From the Shaw Brothers revival of the 1960s to Tsui Hark's 1990s comeback and Ang Lee's global breakthrough, this conversation gives you the vocabulary to see these films more clearly. Cinema Scope is part of the TruStory FM network.
📍 All episode links and resources (trustory.fm/cinemascope/wuxia-unleashed-leon-h…)
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