Kung Fu Hustle (MA 15+) PRESENTED IN 35MM FILM

Kung Fu Hustle at The Revival House Perth

In 1940s Shanghai, the ruthless Axe Gang controls the city through terror and violence, leaving only the poorest slum of Pig Sty Alley untouched—it's simply not worth their time. Small-time crook Sing (Stephen Chow) and his rotund sidekick Bone (Lam Tze-chung) aspire to join the Axe Gang, attempting to extort the slum's residents while pretending to be gang members. Their scheme backfires spectacularly when the real Axe Gang shows up seeking revenge, only to discover that Pig Sty's seemingly ordinary residents are actually retired kung fu masters in hiding. The Landlady (Yuen Qiu), a chain-smoking harridan, and her henpecked husband the Landlord (Yuen Wah) reveal themselves as legendary fighters, while other tenants demonstrate their own extraordinary skills. As an all-out war erupts between the underworld and the hidden masters, Sing must confront his own buried potential and decide which side he truly belongs on.

Writer-director-star Stephen Chow delivers a masterpiece of martial arts cinema that's equal parts action spectacle, slapstick comedy, and genuine emotion. The 2004 film's fight choreography, supervised by Yuen Woo-ping, pushes wire-fu to its logical extreme—characters run up walls, defy gravity, and unleash techniques that blur the line between martial arts and superpowers. Chow's CGI-enhanced action sequences create a live-action cartoon aesthetic that's thrilling rather than silly, from the musical assassination attempt using an ancient guqin to the climactic Buddhist Palm technique. Beneath the comedy and spectacle lies real heart, particularly in Sing's childhood flashback and his journey from wannabe villain to reluctant hero. The film's loving homage to classic kung fu cinema, combined with Chow's anarchic comedic sensibility, created something wholly original that works on every level.

Original format and audio experience of this film faithfully reproduced by The Revival House. Presented in 35mm film unless noted otherwise.

When: Thursday, March 26th at 7:30PM
Where: The Revival House at the Como Theatre
Rating: MA 15+ (Medium level violence)

Stephen Chow's gravity-defying martial arts masterpiece blends kung fu legends, cartoon logic, and genuine heart into pure cinematic joy, in 35mm film.

Presented by: The Revival House Perth