Directed by Lau Kar-leung

Witten by Kuang Ni

produced by Runme Shaw

1977 Hong Kong

This film is about the coming together of two opposites. First, Tiger style Kung Fu practiced by the father and next, Crane style practiced by the mother. Ultimately, no one style is powerful enough to defeat the villain alone. So it is the culmination of both styles in their son which finally has the power to defeat him. This is a dramatic way to represent an important theme in history. When two ideas practiced separately or dogmatically by one generation are combined and interwoven by the next to create something new. Although purity is lost something new is created. This is the progress of history. The conflict of one thesis with its opposite the anti-thesis eventually resolves in a synthesis, to put it in the words of Kant. Some people may negatively frame this as appropriations others as influence but regardless the exchange of ideas and customs is inevitable in this mixed cultural world we live is. And The Executioners from Shaolin, seems dead set on presenting this not only as positive but as a necessity. What strikes me as interesting is the mode they choose to represent this; different styles of Kung Fu. The drama lies in the fact the audience realizes this before the main character who almost willing walks into his own death.

This classic film represents everything someone could want. From beautiful scenery, to incredibly choreographed fights all interwoven with a captivating plot. If you want to watch a film with the true aesthetics of a 1970’s Kung Fu movie this is the film for you.

A man must never forget to avenge his dead master. Through life, he meets a lover and raises a son, but eventually he must return to the mountainside temple where the killer awaits him. Will his tiger style kung fu alone be enough to defeat him?

“what the superior person seeks is in oneself, what the weak person seeks is in others”