FACETS OF LOVE (1973)
aka NORTHERN LADIES OF CHINA
Label: 88 Films
Region Code: A,B
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 98 Minutes 37 Seconds
Audio: Mandarin LPCM 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.35:1)
Director: Han Hsiang Li
Cast: Jackie Chan, Shen Chan, Kang-Yeh Cheng, Ling Chiang, Nan Chiang, Hsin Chin, Tina Chin-Fei, Miao Ching, Mien Fang, Ping Ha, Li-Jen Ho, Lily Ho, Chin Hu, Chiu Chin Ku, Dan Lau, Wen-Tai Li
The Shaw Brothers Studios erotic anthology Facets of Love (1973) tells three stories set in an opulent Shanghai brothel in the early years of the 20th century. The first tells the tale of Da-Qin (Yu Feng), a prostitute who refuses to give in to her dire circumstances and earns the wrath of her sadistic madame Miss Ho (Lily Ho), treated to some rope torture and whippings. Less unsavory are the other tales of emperors and their comings and going at the brothel, the first a young emperor (Elliot Ngok) who gets a sexual education at the brothel, while the third, tells the tale of an aged emperor (Wong Yu) who possesses the body of a handsome young soldier to be with a gorgeous prostitute.
First and foremost this is a gorgeous looking film, the brothel is an opulent palace of lust, the spectacle of which looks terrific on film. The costuming and period setting are sumptuous from start to finish, and the main cast are uniformly excellent. I found the tone to be a bit off-kilter, which is not unusual for an anthology, but even then the turn from forced prostitution and sexual torture of the first tale to ribald sex humor and supernatural sexual shenanigans to be a bit unsettling. The later entries do offer plenty of nudity and playful erotica, but that first segment though was unsavory, and the transition is not exactly seamless. The overall story arcs is very loose, it's just a trio of tales set in a particular brothel during the Ming Dynasty, and the myriad of human interaction happening inside, from the pain to the sensuality the horny sexual desires of a aging emperor.
If you're craving Shaw Bros. kung fu action this ain't it, but if you're in the mood for sumptuous period costume melodrama with a touch of torture and some playful sexual intrigue and nudity, this uneven but attractive looking Shaw Bros. anthology might just do the trick.
Audio/Video: Facets of Love (19793) arrives on region A,B Blu-ray from 88 Films in 1080p HD widescreen (2.35:1), and is advertised as being sourced from an HD scan of the original camera negative. It's a fine looking transfer with a filmic looking layer of grain, accurate color reproduction and skin tones, and rock solid blacks. Audio comes by way of Mandarin DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono with optional English subtitles, the track is clean and well-balanced, there are no issues with hiss or distortion.
Extras include and Still Gallery and a Theatrical Trailer for the film. The single-disc release is housed inside a clear full-height Scanavo keepcase with a Reversible Wrap featuring the Honk Kong artwork and a fetching new illustration by Sam Gilbey. We also get a Limited Edition (First Pressing Only) Slipcover also featuring the new artwork. Inside are 4 Collector's Art Cards.
Special Features:
- High Definition (1080p) Presentation in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio
- 2.0 LPCM Mandarin Soundtrack with newly translated English Subtitles
- Trailer (1:23)
- Still Gallery
- 4 Collector's Art Cards
- Reversible Wrap featuring new artwork by Yu-Ming Huang and Original Hong Kong artwork
- Slipcover (First Pressing Only)
Screenshots from the 88 Films Blu-ray:
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