House of Flying Daggers - Colour Symbolism

http://gb.cri.cn/37291/2011/02/23/5471s3161660_2.htm

http://www.thefancarpet.com/ActorGalleryPicture.aspx?mga_id=2827&a_id=579

http://www.filmsufi.com/2009/10/house-of-flying-daggers-zhang-yimou.html

http://omnipotent-film-critic.com/reviews-2004/flyingdaggers.html

http://www.moviemail.com/film/56143/House-of-Flying-Daggers/

It's very rare (for me) to enjoy a subtitled film but this piece is not only emotional and smart, it also stays true to tradition with everything from the actual film being in Chinese to the costumes and scenery. I feel that Yimou really captures every moment and character perfectly with his use of colour. This authentic production really takes its audience on world wind of not only emotions but colour. 

The first two still images capture Xiao Mei towards the end of the film where she is at one with nature and this is reflected in both her costume and makeup. The character played by Zhang Ziyi is styled in a very neutral, plain and almost dull way during her journey in the film when she is deceiving Jin with false visual impairment. This part of the characters journey involves a lot of brown and very neutral shades; her costume and makeup come together to create almost a boy like appearance. Zhang Yimou has a history of creating some spectacular pieces of work when it comes to the visual aspect of the film platform and this movie is no exception. Notice that throughout the film often, the costumes and styling of the character is mirrored by the scenery; for example, in the first half and at the end of the film, the colours in each characters costume are browny/ neutral shades, this is then reflected in the brown and dull earthy shades of the scenery - smart aye?

One colour that I found extremely significant in this oriental masterpiece, is the use of green. I researched the old Chinese tradition that green hats in Chinese Folk Tradition were a sign of infidelity which in some way links to the context of this film, where the character of Zhang Ziyi deceives and misleads potential lover and travelling partner Jin into believing she is visually impaired. After asking various people what the colour green reminded them of, many said it could be associated with snakey and deceiving behaviour. It also could portray betrayal in a visual content but more than anything I think the green is a very good representation of the mood and scenery in this film. The action packed content of this movie is held within a jungle of green bamboo shoots so essentially the colour could reflect nature. It is also significant that during the films adventures, every time there is danger or conflict; instead of red which is what we would associate with battle, danger and conflict; Yimou uses the colour green.

The brightness and use of colour in Yimou's masterpiece is really what makes this film so visually appealing to not only myself, but to many others. Research also shows that much of the costumes, props and decorations were extracted from different Chinese paintings of the era; and I feel like this gives the film an even more authentic and artistic concept/ feel. Judging by the imagery and use of colour in this film, it's clear to see that if Yimou wanted to incorporate the colour blue, or even pink in a scene, he wouldn't just apply it to the costume of a character but instead has filled our whole screen with that specific colour but instead of being over powering and over the top; it appears artistic, vivid and theatrical. The fourth still shown is an exact example of that and within Chinese performing and visual arts, blue is significant for representing not only emotion but a season. In Chinese Symbolism blue is perceived as Autumn and portrays a serene and tranquil element that suits the context of that scene perfectly because Ziyi's s character Xiao Mei is performing as a visually impaired dancer and also the daughter of an old leader; almost adds innocence to her character. 

Another film that I think uses colour symbolism (apart from Zhang Yimou's 'Raise the Red Lantern'), is my all time favourite film, Memoirs of a Geisha. Everything from the serenity and pureness of young Chiyo's eyes to the dark dimmed lights of Kyoto's hidden Geisha culture portray how colour can be used to evoke an emotion or setting. Like the colour green in House of Flying Daggers, Memoirs of a Geisha uses various red tones to signify both the good and bad aspects of a young Geisha's life and also to evoke the anger and behaviour of Sayuri's rival Hatsumomo. The colours in this film are very vivid (like Yimou's movies) and in conjunction with the music almost have a theatrical feel to them.