A Chinese Ghost Story
dir. Tony Ching Siu-Tung · 1987
Plot
Ning Tsai-Shen, a humble tax collector, arrives in a small town to carry out his work. Unsurprisingly, no-one is willing to give him shelter for the night, so he ends up spending the night in the haunted Lan Ro temple. There, he meets Taoist Swordsman Yen Che-Hsia, who warns him to stay out of trouble, and the beautiful Nieh Hsiao-Tsing, with whom he falls in love. Unfortunately, Hsiao-Tsing is a ghost, bound for all eternity by a hideous tree spirit with an incredibly long tongue that wraps itself round its victims and sucks out their life essence (or 'yang element')...
Why watch
"A Chinese Ghost Story" weaves a haunting tale of love that transcends life and death, where a tax collector's chance encounter with a ghostly beauty leads to a battle against dark forces. With its lush visuals and a blend of romance and horror, this film invites viewers into a world where love is both enchanting and perilous.
Talking points
- the role of folklore in modern storytelling
- the intersection of love and horror
- cultural representations of ghosts
- the impact of visual style on emotional engagement