Synopsis
is the induction to Hu's application of Beijing opera to his cinematic narrative style. Hu introduces his chief villains, the eunuchs, who move to the stately rhythms and beat of traditional opera music. A lone swordsman facing off the gendarmes of the eunuchs security agency as they escort the children of a disgraced minister to prison follows this. Here, the fight scenes are choreographed to the accented beats of the ban (wooden board) that typically recurs in Beijing opera. Much of the film takes place inside the eponymous inn, a way station in the middle of nowhere which the eunuchs occupy in an attempt draws out a group of fighters loyal to the minister who protect the children and escort them to safety. The film is dramatically taut, achieved through unity of space, action, character and plot. Hu delves into his stylistic touch-ups involving deception, subterfuge, and masquerade.(Stephen Teo)