Hit reinvigorates Tiger Mountain

A vestige of an earlier era has spawned a new work of tremendous popularity, offering a second look at a special type of art that existed solely for the sake of politics

Before Tsui Hark's new film came out at year's end, I, like many critics, was expecting a fiasco. How likely could it be that a filmmaker reared in a freewheeling capitalist system would be able to adapt a "revolutionary" work? The values would clash violently, I presumed.

Surprise, surprise! The Taking of Tiger Mountain turned out to be a runaway hit, not only at the box office, to the tune of 800-plus million yuan (more than $128 million), but by word-of-mouth. The Hong Kong director has accomplished the near impossible - he has brought new relevance to a relic of the "cultural revolution" (1966-76).