ACMI Presents

Hero

英雄

Zhang Yimou | China, Hong Kong | 2002 | M

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When

Thu 26 Feb 2026

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From acclaimed director Zhang Yimou comes a breathtakingly visual martial arts epic steeped in history and mythology.

Set during the violent dawn of the Qin Dynasty over two thousand years ago, Hero tells its story through a series of Rashomon-like flashbacks.

Having survived multiple assassination attempts, a King ruling during the Warring States Period of China lives under heavy guard. A great warrior, Nameless (Jet Li), arrives at the palace to address the King, announcing that he has killed the four assassins: Long Sky (Donnie Yen), Broken Sword (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung Man-yuk) and Fading Moon (Zhang Ziyi).

Curator's Note
Directed by Zhang Yimou, the hugely acclaimed director of China's Fifth Generation, Hero is an historical drama that is both grand and visually splendid in equal measure.

Meticulously staged, it is rumoured that to film Maggie Cheung Man-yuk and Zhang Ziyi's fight sequence in swirling leaves, each leaf was sorted by quality, so only the best leaves appeared close to the camera. Viewing it today, it is mind-blowing to realise the sequence is not computer-generated.

Produced shortly after the 1997 handover of Hong Kong from the UK to China, the film carries themes of reunification that were relevant at the time and carry significant weight today.

Hero received an Academy Award nomination for Best International Film and won seven major awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards.