The Original Ass Kickers: Hong Kong Cinema’s Female Action Heroes from Shaw Brothers and Beyond

As part of HOME’s 2019 celebration of women in global cinema we offer a selection of films that together are our salute to Hong Kong cinema’s female fighting stars, the original cinematic ass kickers.

Whilst recent critics have championed recent Hollywood films such as Wonder Woman for offering a feistier, tougher version of femininity on screen, few have recognised that Hong Kong cinema has long created a space for such challenging roles, parts that have seen female stars high-kicking and bone-crunching with the best.

HOME’s selection of ‘Original Ass Kickers’ are the film stars who are the role models for today’s global female action heroes. A vital part of the history of the Hong Kong film industry, these stars worked within the system creating a series of characters that simply refused to be side-lined and placed themselves in the heart of the action. Beginning with films produced at the legendary Shaw Brothers studio before moving on to the 1980s and 1990s, this season will gather together some of Hong Kong’s most celebrated films and their ass kicking stars.

Curated by Andy Willis, Professor of Film Studies, University of Salford. This season is supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office London.