Peking Opera Blues

Friday, August 15 - Thursday, August 21, 2025

SHOWTIMES AT IFC CENTER

“An undisputed classic, PEKING OPERA BLUES tells the story of three strong-willed women in China’s capital city amid the political chaos following the revolution of 1911. The action moves back and forth between palace and theater at a furious pace, and director Tsui Hark has been praised for his ability to combine farce, pageantry, drama and stuntwork.” – Fredric Dannen, Hong Kong Babylon: An Insider’s Guide to the Hollywood of the East

“Hong Kong cinema is too wide-ranging for there to be a ‘best’ picture… but if you put a gun to my back, Tsui Hark’s masterpiece would be my choice.” – Andy Klein

“A soaring, romantic action-comedy, with loads of eye-popping color, French-farce-flavored set pieces, and high-octane cinematic imagination.” – Ric Meyers

“Still unsurpassed. Tsui Hark recapitulates nearly the whole history of cinema–from slapstick farce to tragic heroism–in one gleeful, manic burst of inspiration.” – Howard Hampton

Screening as part of our Hong Kong Cinema Classics series

See more and save! Get a Hong Kong Cinema Classics 3-Ticket Pack ($30 for IFC Center members and $45 for non-members). Ticket packs are good for any 3 shows in the retrospective.

  • Country Hong Kong
  • Language Cantonese with English subtitles
  • Year 1986
  • Running Time 106 minutes
  • Format DCP
  • Distributor Shout! Studios
  • Director Tsui Hark
  • Cast Brigitte Lin, Cherie Chung, Sally Yeh, Paul Chun, Wu Ma
  • Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.