Movie review: ‘Qiu Jin: The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake’

Herman Yau’s sumptuous historical epic “Qiu Jin: The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake” veers between preachy and poignant, but the conviction and skill of Huang Yi in the title role helps hold the film together.

Qiu Jin became a national heroine — she was a leader in the toppling of the corrupt Qing dynasty in 1911, paving the way for the formation of the Republic of China — but her turbulent life recalls the ancient Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times.”

By the time she was born in 1875 to a territorial governor and his wife, China, suffering defeat in the Opium Wars, had made many concessions to Western powers while its own imperial government became increasingly reactionary and tyrannical. A rebel from the start, Qiu as a child successfully resisted having her feet bound, inherently believed that men and women were equals and became devoted to poetry and martial arts.

Her radical feminism propelled her into becoming a leader in the growing anti-Qing resistance.

Surprisingly, she agreed to an arranged marriage to the scion of a wealthy family who simply wanted to continue his comfortable existence; he came to accept that his wife was a veritable Joan of Arc. She promoted women’s emancipation and education, many other causes and even led charges against government troops.

As the determined Qiu, Huang is able to sustain credibility-straining moments, such as when she is required to display the kung fu wizardry of a Bruce Lee. Drawn from Erica Li Man’s complicated script, “Qiu Jin” is nevertheless at once substantial and entertaining in Yau’s capable hands.

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