Enchanting Shadow
(Ching nu yu hun)

Unable to find room at an inn, a student decides to spend the night in an abandoned temple. Here, he comes across a surly hermit, who is a skilful swordsman. But, at nightfall, he also meets a mysterious young woman… Does this story sound familiar? It’s hardly surprising, as the cult film A Chinese Ghost Story (1987) by Tsui Hark and Ching Siu-tung, is the remake of this Enchanting Shadow. The fantasy-like atmosphere of the short story by Pu Songling, which inspired the film, gives Li Han-hsiang a perfect opportunity to exalt the idea of romantic love. JB