1746 Post Street
San Francisco, California 94115

Mixing the intimate and the epic to great effect, Chen Kaige’s (Yellow Earth [SFIFF 1986]) latest is a character-driven story of retribution and regret. General Tu’an feels that his fortunes have been thwarted by the popularity of the Zhao clan and devises an intricately planned coup d’état. During the confusion of the ensuing massacre, Cheng Ying, a court doctor who is a new father himself, helps deliver the last of the Zhao clan in secret and is entrusted with the baby’s safety, setting in motion an intricate story of mistaken identities, paternal love, betrayal and revenge. As he did with Farewell My Concubine (1993), Chen turns to the stage for his filmic inspiration, this time giving his own spin to this sweeping adaptation of Yuan dynasty-era Orphan of Zhao.

Date: July 27–August 2
Showtimes: 1:00, 3:30, 6:00, 8:30

Official Website: http://www.sffs.org/Exhibition/SF-Film-Society-Cinema/sacrifice.aspx

Added by cinesoul on June 27, 2012