Best movies like Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema

A unique, carefully handpicked, selection of the best movies like Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema Starring Chang Cheh, Chen Kaige, Leslie Cheung, Hou Hsiao-hsien, and more. If you liked Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema then you may also like: Vengeance!, Women, Wu Dang, Naked Boys Singing!, Kung Fu Dunk and many more popular movies featured on this list. You can further filter the list even more or get a random selection from the list of similar movies, to make your selection even easier.

This highly personal film essay demonstrates that Chinese cinema has dealt with questions of gender and sexuality more frankly and provocatively than any other national cinema. Yang ± Yin examines male bonding and phallic imagery in the swordplay and kung fu movies of the '60s and '70s; homosexuality; same-sex bonding and physical intimacy; the continuing emphasis on women's grievances in melodramas; and the phenomenon of Yam Kim-Fai, a Hong Kong actress who spent her life portraying men on and off the screen.

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Vengeance!

A violent martial artist is bent on avenging his older brother, who was killed by a cabal of four wicked businessmen and a cheating wife.

Women

Liang Pao-erh joins the carefree Spinsters' Club when she discovers her husband is having an affair. Despite the seemingly happy front that her sisters put on, beneath it all, each of them secretly yearns for a man in her life.

Wu Dang

In early Republican China, rumors were going around about the treasure in Wudang Mountain. An American conspirator took his well-trained kung fu daughter to Wudang by sponsoring a Taoist martial arts competition, to steal the treasure. Out of expectation, a disciple represented Wudang to compete with other martial arts masters for the championship. During the competition, resentment incurred against different parties, the relationship became complicated, a Korean female Tai Chi descendant fell in love with the American conspirator and the secret of the treasure had been revealed. The treasure is the key of the magnetic field of Wudang, if it's stolen, Wudang would be devastated. To protect Wudang, a group of young heroes rallied around to defeat grant masters. It's the time the long-lost Wudang martial arts returned

Naked Boys Singing!

This whimsical Off-Broadway hit musical is aptly reworked and transferred to the screen. The self-descriptively titled Naked Boys Singing is a musical revue of songs that poke fun at gay life, body image, love, loss and yearning.

Kung Fu Dunk

Shi-Jie is a brilliant martial artist from the Kung Fu School. One day, he encounters a group of youths playing basketball and shows off how easy it is for him, with his martial arts training, to do a Slam Dunk. Watching him was Chen-Li, a shrewd businessman, who recruits him to play varsity basketball at the local university.

Bishonen

Jet is a gay hustler who one night spots a young man walking with a woman, and falls for him instantly. He does some research, and discovers that the man is called Sam, and is an apparently straight policeman.

Happy Together

A gay couple from Hong Kong takes a trip to Argentina in search of a new beginning but instead begins drifting even further apart.

Wonder Seven

Wonder Seven, a secret group of well-trained government agents in China, has been assigned a case of a computer disc robbery. At first everything seems to go smooth, when a disastrous national conspiracy unravels. Seven gets caught and are forced to strike back. Meanwhile, the leader of Seven, Yip, develops a forbidden romance with a mysterious Japanese lady...

The Legend of the Swordsman

Ling Wu Chung decides to hide from the chaotic world. Before leaving, he visits his friends, a tribe of snake-wielding women warriors. However, he finds that the tribe have been attacked, and their leader Yam Ying Ying has been abducted.

The Hidden Führer: Debating the Enigma of Hitler's Sexuality

In September 2001, respected German historian Lothar Machtan dropped a bombshell on the world of Hitler studies: Hitler was secretly homosexual. His highly acclaimed and explosive book "The Hidden Hitler" ignited a storm of controversy. With information from the bestselling book, award-winning filmmakers Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato and Gabriel Rotello explore areas of the Führer's private life.

Platform

China's rapid changes from the late-1970s to the early 1990s, as seen through the lives of four performers in a theater troupe.

Summer Heat

A gripping drama about a seductive woman with three men in her life: a rich husband ; a sexy playboy, and a sensitive intellectual. That two of her lovers are brothers further complicates the story.

Twilight Online

A thriller based on two real incidents: the 2003 Tuen Mun Road traffic accident that claimed 21 lives and the 2013 Yau Oi Estate suicide, where the female victim dressed in red leapt to her death on the day of the Chinese Ghost Festival.

Soundless Wind Chime

Ricky leaves Hong Kong for Switzerland to look for the lost soul and the past of his deceased Swiss lover, Pascal. Ricky struggles with the confusion of memories, reality and illusion.

The Legend Is Born: Ip Man

The remarkable true story of the early life of Ip Man, the formidable kung fu genius who would become Bruce Lee's mentor; beginning at the start of his journey from his initial training through to the ultimate battle to become supreme master of the art of Wing Chun.

Squadron 77

Spy thriller set in occupied Shanghai. Li Lihua stars as the woman who is thrust into the role of nationalist freedom fighter when she discovers that her husband is a collaborator with the Japanese.

The Pass

The night before their debut game, two professional soccer players share a kiss. In a sporting world where image is everything, this surprising ‘pass’ sets the men up for a contrasting decade of fame and failure, full of secrets and denial.

Painted Faces

This is a story about the Peking Opera School that Jackie Chan, Samo Hung and Yuen Biao attended as young men. The story is about their teacher Master Yu and his school.

The 7 Tyrants of Jiangnan

A child learns martial arts in order to become a Kung Fu warrior. Features the Seven Little Fortunes, and is the debut film of Jackie Chan.

Cinema of Vengeance

A documentary study of martial arts films and their leading protagonists. Included are profiles of such artists as Bruce Lee, Cynthia Rothrock, Jackie Chan, Jean-Claude Van Damme and John Woo favourite Chow Yun Fat.

Bruce Lee, My Brother

Bruce Lee, My Brother is an action-dramatic biopic of the eponymous martial arts legend as told by his younger brother, Robert Lee. It revolves around Bruce Lee's life as a rebellious adolescent in Hong Kong before he sets off for the USA and conquers the world at the age of 18 with only US$100 in his pocket.

Zerophilia

In this provocative teen comedy, Luke, a young man insecure about his masculinity discovers he's a Zerophiliac, with the ability to change sex at will. Join Luke as he journeys into the extraordinary world of Zerophilia where so many crazy questions arise, only one question matters: "Whom do you love?"

Killer Clans

Based on a popular swordplay novel, this colorful and complex saga (whose Chinese title literally translates into the poetic Meteor, Butterfly, Sword) has enough conspiracies, stratagems, and sword fights to fascinate even novice kung-fu cinema viewers. The cast of Shaw Brothers' leading swordsmen and swordswomen are masterfully staged by Yuen Cheung-yan, the brother of Matrix and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping. The result is both a great action movie and an exceptional dramatic film.

The Chinese Stuntman

The Chinese Stuntman was a Bruceploitation film released in 1981. Bruce Li (who also directs) plays an insurance salesman who ends up working as a stuntman on a Hong Kong movie.

Holy Weapon

During the Ming dynasty, Mo Kake takes an invincibility drink to defeat the best Japanese warrior, Super Sword. Three years later, the samurai returns, determined to take the power of 7 Maidens to defeat Mo Kake.

Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong

Filmmaker Ian Taylor examines the impressive legacy of Hong Kong cinema -- specifically, how martial arts crossed borders and become an international phenomenon -- with the help of footage and interviews with the stars who made the genre what it is today. Director Lau Ka Leung (who helmed The 36th Chamber of Shaolin) joins in, sharing his thoughts on how certain cinematic technologies have improved martial arts films and expanded their appeal.

Amphetamine

Openly gay banker Daniel debates whether to return to Australia or stay in Hong Kong when he meets Kafka, a straight swimming instructor. The young men fall in love, believing that their love can bridge anything, despite their difference in sexuality and Kafka's increasing drug use. Daniel does not regret his love for Kafka, who tries to love him back against his nature. But a flashback memory from Kafka's past makes it difficult for their relationship to work.

Chinatown Kid

Struggling to survive the murderous gang wars of Hong Kong, Tan Tung, a young martial arts street fighter, successfully takes on all challengers—until he runs up against the savage underworld empire of Hong Kong's Triad mafia. Escaping to San Francisco, he again tangles with criminal gangs, but this time fights his way to the top of the city's most feared gangster organization led by the White Dragon boss.

The Spiritual Boxer

Wang Yu plays Hsiao Chien, a con artist vagabond who uses his kung fu skills and parlor tricks to convince superstitious villagers that he can use his body as a vessel for angry gods. However, when the villagers are threatened by a hostile force, Chien must learn to use his skills to protect the innocent.

First Shot

During a period of widespread police corruption, Ti Lung is a stubborn cop who takes on both the mob and the political establishment.

Man Wanted 3

The boss of a powerful Hong Kong triad struggles to maintain his position, while wishing that he could express his love to a widow of another triad member.

Heroes of Sung

Heroes of Sung stars one of the original kung-fu ladies of the silver screen Shih Szu playing swordswoman Meng Hung who must work with Fan Tien-fu, played by perennial Shaws bad guy Lo Lieh (although he's good in this) to find then protect the royal seals of the Sung Dynasty. If they should fail, the dynasty will fall. Shih's magnificent performance earned her the female hero role in the Shaws-Hammer Studio hit "Dracula" and the 7 Golden Vampires.

The Jade Bow

A villain steals a kung fu manual and kills the good swordsmen it belongs to. He masters the powers it offers and goes on to commit various evils. Twenty years later, a young swordsman heads off to take him to account. On the way he meets a couple of feisty young swordswomen, and his life gets more complicated.

Dearest Anita

In the wake of her passing, fans of the late Hong Kong icon Anita Mui strive to save and return a collection of fan-given gifts that are destined for the landfill. As the items find they way back to the original senders, personal stories of friendship and fandom with the superstar begin to emerge.

The Vagina Monologues

This controversial work, created and performed by Eve Ensler, debuted off-off-Broadway in 1996 and soon rode a wave of national acclaim. Now, the intimacy of Ensler's original show has been lovingly brought to the screen. Capturing her unique performance, the film also follows Ensler as she explores the creative impetus behind the monologues and conducts a series of new interviews as inspiring as those that brought about the original work

The Girl Shaman

Following Tales from the Dark and Are You Here, Siu Yam Yam scares audiences again in the horror film The Girl Shaman. The Shaw Brothers veteran is flanked by a young lineup of actresses including Ashina Kwok (Lazy Hazy Crazy), Maggie Lee (La Lingerie), Daisy Li and Yan Linglan of Seven Sense. After losing her boyfriend to a drowning accident, 19-year-old Xueni (Ashina Kwok) agrees to a soul-swap contract with an elderly shaman (Siu Yam Yam). Having gained the power to wander the realms of the living and dead, Xueni sets out to save her boyfriend's soul.

Bad Girl

The film investigates explicit representations of female sexuality by women, exploring the pragmatic and philosophical questions they pose, with emphasis on the ways in which the creation of women-friendly pornography confronts and alters the expectations of male consumers. Ultimately, Nitoslawska is concerned with how we comprehend desire, gender and identity, how we understand and represent its history, and the resulting affect on culture and human relations.

Cinema Hong Kong: The Beauties of the Shaw Studio

Hong Kong cinemas had a wide range of glamorous female stars during the golden age of the 60's and 70's. The series will take the audience on a sentimental journey to the good old days and once again look at the expansive epic costume dramas and huangmei operas in which actresses played both the male and female roles. Rare interviews with Sir Run Run Shaw, stars Ivy Ling Po, Shaw Yin Yin, Tanny Tie Ni and Cheng Pei Pei are also featured.

Lazy Hazy Crazy

Childhood friends Tracy, Chloe and Alice share an apartment over the summer. They live close together, meet guys and sell their company as well as sex. With a romantic imagery and sometimes provocative theme the female debutant director Luk Yee-sum give the audience a playful story about sexuality, desire and friendship.

Sara

Journalist Sara has just spent four months completing an in-depth investigation piece. Her editor-in-chief, afraid of offending powerful politicians and business moguls, refuses to run it. Sara’s boyfriend, who works for the same magazine, chooses not to warn her and even sides with the editor-in-chief. In just one moment, Sara is turned off by her work, her love relationship, and even about life.At this low point in her life, Sara exiles herself to Chiang Mai, Thailand. One evening, while at a bar, Sara meets child prostitute Dok-My. During her time getting to know Dok-My and through the process of rescuing her, Sara becomes haunted by the memories of her own past…

Sensual Pleasures

Sensual Pleasures features a collection of three, ghost story, sexual vignettes starring a viscerally sensual trio of hardcore experience with the well endowed Chen Ping, Chinese adult film legend Shirley Yu and the innocent doe-eyed Shaw Yin-yin.

The Ditch

The film focuses on the suffering of Chinese who were imprisoned in a forced labor camp called Jiabiangou in the Gobi Desert in winter 1960 under Mao Zedong on the grounds that they were "rightist elements". The film tells of the harsh life of these men, who coped with physical exhaustion, extreme cold, starvation and death on a daily basis.

The Queen Bee

Hsiao Yen, a Young Country girl, has come to the city to find work. Her first job is as a maid-servant. She is told by the hunchback servant Lei Kung, that the master of the house is an invalid cripple who never leaves his room. One night, Hsiao Yen's screams bring Ta Tseng, the Chauffeur, to the rescue of Wang Ma, an old servant, who has tried to hang herself...

The Blood Rules

Mike, Jean, Shoot and Q are a professional robbery gang working for Uncle Lam. Q loves his girlfriend Bo who loves decisive men and luxury life. Shoot loves exotic fishes and Jean. Jean loves Mike, but he is married to another woman and has a young son. Uncle Lam loves good meals and big money. After finishing successfully the most recent job for Uncle Lam, Mike and his team want to take a break. Uncle Lam insists that they take one more job, which is to rob a triad boss Chicken Sam who loves diamonds in the very literal sense of the word. The robbery doesn’t go too smooth; moreover, Tom Wai, a police officer who loves his job, is getting closer and closer…

Twenty Something Taipei

In the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, the taboo of sex is racing through everyone's minds: a kindergarten teacher is a party animal at night, a sex-addicted hairstylist seduces anyone she can, a cyber angel hungers for various sexual relationships, and a lesbian swears to protect the women of the world. In their lives the questions of sex, love, and the game of romance plays through their minds, but will the answers ever come?

I Want More!

The lecherous Ming emperor Cheng Teh sat on the throne, women were utterly subservient to men. Businessmen, officials and scholars suggested building houses of infinite pleasure to their ives. In the Ching Hua House of pleasure, the girls underwent exacting drills and instruction in the sensual arts under a stern madam, who punished any uncooperative girl into submission. Susan, the fairest and most headstrong girl in the Ching Hua House, fell in love at first sight with a handsome young scholar. He was on his way to Peking to sit for the imperial xaminations. Yet he fell in love with Susan too, and he spent his last penny to pass the night with her......

Love with an Alien

A romantic melodrama about a handsome Korean composer who falls for a Hong Kong singer

ANOTHER SIDE ...... JOEY . MY SECRET . LIVE

Hong Kong’s first concert leaps onto big screen, with Emperor Cinemas exclusively showcasing the highly anticipated Joey Yung Concert 2023《ANOTHER SIDE ...... JOEY . MY SECRET . LIVE》, a masterpiece created by Joey Yung and her team. This extraordinary concert extends the emotional impact experienced during the unforgettable 34 nights at the HKAPA. Audience can indulge in Joey’s incredible performance enhanced by extraordinary stage effect presented from multiple angles on the cinema screen. This immersive experience will transport you into Joey's Secret Garden, allowing you to feel as part of the concert. The limited screening will commence exclusively at Emperor Cinemas starting 19 Jan. Join together for the unique experience that you should never miss!

Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks

The fantastic story of how an ancient martial art, Chinese kung fu, conquered the world through the hundreds of films that were produced in Hong Kong over the decades, transformed Western action cinema and inspired the birth of cultural movements such as blaxploitation, hip hop music, parkour and Wakaliwood cinema.

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