Iron Mistress
1969｜89min｜ Colour Set during the Jin invasion of China in the Southern Song Dynasty, Iron Mistress tell the story of the eponymous heroine who rises up in this turbulent time to lead a rebellion against their tyrannical enemy with her upstanding character and masterful kung fu. Under the constant pursuit of Jin general SAN Ke-Ning, Iron Mistress hides out in the depths of the mountains with her subordinates, never imagining that the Jin would take advantage of her kind-heartedness by manipulating her emotions and creating distrust as part of a scheme to crack her inner circle. Iron Mistress is one of the earlier works of filmmaker SUNG Tsun-Shou, director of Outside the Window. It is a response to the martial arts film wave triggered by Dragon Gate Inn. The tale of the Iron Mistress depicts not only a warrior’s heroic spirit and the deceptive scheming between enemies, but also the inherent weakness and devotion of the human heart. Director SUNG Tsun-Shou SUNG Tsun-Shou (1932-2008) worked as a screenwriter early in his career before carving out a reputation as a director willing to tackle taboo subject matter. His 1973 film, Outside the Window, the story of a forbidden affair between teacher and student, is regarded as one of the classic film adaptations of romance writer Chiung-Yao. His films are remembered for the mild, timeless visual style and an unadorned narrative that infuses the world of the love story with a humanizing touch.