The Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan

In medieval China, Ainu is kidnapped and forced to prostitu-
tion in a brothel owned by Lady Chun. She is obviously
reluctant at ﬁ rst, but when her only friend is killed, she
agrees to do what she is asked. Soon she becomes the most
successful ”girl” at the brothel, charming everyone with
her beauty and integrity. But all the time, she is plotting her
violent revenge against the men who use her.
With stunning cinematography in an equally beautiful
mise-en-scéne, the visual appeal of this ﬁ lm is nothing
short of overwhelming. There is a strong feminist aspect
allthrough the ﬁ lm – here, the female characters are the
strong ones, and prevail, while almost all the male roles
are charicatures of the rich and ugly. Add to it some well
choreographed kung fu ﬁ ghts and sensual eroticism, and the
result is a true gem.
Intimate Confessions of A Chinese Courtesan is one of
the most controversial ﬁ lms in the history of Hong Kong
cinema, and was an audience shocker when Shaw Brothers
released it in 1972.
JAKOB BERGLUND