{ "id": "epx799mp56", "slug": "saviour-of-the-soul", "title": "Saviour of the Soul (九一神雕侠侣)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy", "label": "Science fiction and fantasy films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-3", "label": "Science fiction and fantasy films of the 1990s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-3" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-3.yr-1990-1995", "label": "Released 1990 to 1995", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-3.yr-1990-1995" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "China · 1946 to 2000: Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "path": [ { "id": "geo.chn", "label": "China", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946", "label": "China · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Saviour of the Soul (九一神鵰俠侶), also released as Savior of the Soul, is a 1991 Hong Kong action fantasy film by Corey Yuen and David Lai, written by Wong Kar-wai, loosely adapted from the manga City Hunter, starring Andy Lau, Anita Mui, and Aaron Kwok, and the debut of Lau's Teamwork company.", "snippet": "Saviour of the Soul (九一神鵰俠侶), also released as Savior of the Soul, is a 1991 Hong Kong action fantasy film by Corey Yuen and David Lai, written by Wong Kar-wai, loosely adapted from the manga City Hunter, starring Andy Lau, Anita Mui, and Aaron Kwok, and the debut of Lau's Teamwork company.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-3.yr-1990-1995", "markdown": "# Saviour of the Soul (九一神雕侠侣)\n\n**Saviour of the Soul** (九一神鵰俠侶) is a 1991 Hong Kong action fantasy film directed by Corey Yuen and David Lai, written by [Wong Kar-wai](https://www.edgepedia.org/wong-kar-wai) and Jeff Lau, and starring [Andy Lau](https://www.edgepedia.org/andy-lau), Anita Mui, Aaron Kwok, Kenny Bee, and Gloria Yip.[1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html) Although its Chinese title borrows from [Jin Yong](https://www.edgepedia.org/jin-yong)'s famous martial arts novel *The Return of the Condor Heroes* (神鵰俠侶), the story is a loose adaptation of the Japanese manga *City Hunter*, blending Chinese martial arts with Western fantasy in a deliberately vague, timeless setting.[1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html) It was the first film produced by Teamwork Motion Pictures (天幕), the company Andy Lau founded in 1991.[1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html) • [2](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/documents/6.-Research-and-Publication/06-02-Filmmakers-Search/Chinese/Andy-LAU_c.pdf)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | 19 December 1991, Hong Kong; Cantonese language; color, 35mm[3](https://movie.douban.com/subject/1301278/) • [1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html) |\n| Directors / writers | Corey Yuen and David Lai; screenplay by Wong Kar-wai and Jeff Lau[1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html) |\n| Production | First film of Teamwork Motion Pictures, founded in 1991 by Andy Lau with David Lai, Yu Wai-kwok, and Chan Pui-wah[2](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/documents/6.-Research-and-Publication/06-02-Filmmakers-Search/Chinese/Andy-LAU_c.pdf) |\n| Source | Chinese title borrowed from Jin Yong's novel; story drawn from Tsukasa Hojo's manga *City Hunter*[1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html) • [4](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/1929247/feature/) |\n| Cast | Andy Lau, Anita Mui (dual roles), Aaron Kwok, Kenny Bee, Gloria Yip, Carina Lau[1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html) • [3](https://movie.douban.com/subject/1301278/) |\n| Recognition | Best Art Direction at the Hong Kong Film Awards; nominations at the 11th Hong Kong Film Awards and 29th Golden Horse Awards[1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html) • [3](https://movie.douban.com/subject/1301278/) |\n| Box office | Over HK$20 million in Hong Kong[5](https://www.hk01.com/%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1/708664/%E6%A2%85%E8%89%B7%E8%8A%B3-%E4%B9%9D%E4%B8%80%E7%A5%9E%E9%B5%B0%E4%BF%A0%E4%BE%B6-%E4%B8%80%E4%BA%BA%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E5%85%A9%E8%A7%92-%E6%A2%85%E5%A7%90%E6%9C%80%E8%A2%AB%E5%BF%BD%E7%95%A5%E7%9A%84%E7%B2%BE%E5%BD%A9%E6%BC%94%E5%87%BA) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Story\n\nThe film is set in an imaginary modern world where Ching (Andy Lau) and May-kwan ([Anita Mui](https://www.edgepedia.org/anita-mui)) are well-known soldiers of fortune, or city mercenaries.[1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html) • [6](https://www.focusgroup.cc/en/major_company/shows_projects_details/3/) The gangland killer Silver Fox ([Aaron Kwok](https://www.edgepedia.org/aaron-kwok)), seeking revenge for his master, attacks May-kwan; their friend Siu-chuen (Kenny Bee) dies protecting her, and Silver Fox loses an eye in the fight.[1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html) • [7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXzltujcTxM) Not wanting Ching to be endangered, May-kwan disappears, leaving Ching to care for Siu-chuen's sister Wai-heung (Gloria Yip). Ching searches for May-kwan for a year before finding her trail, with Silver Fox close behind.[1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html)\n\nA subplot involves a martial-arts marriage tournament: May-kwan's twin sister tricks Ching into believing that a woman called Queen of Pets ([Carina Lau](https://www.edgepedia.org/carina-lau)) is May-kwan in disguise. Ching wins the tournament, learns the truth, and refuses the marriage, earning her resentment.[7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXzltujcTxM) In the climax, May-kwan is poisoned by Silver Fox's \"Terrifying Angel\" poison, which will kill her within 24 hours, and only the Queen of Pets can supply the antidote.[7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXzltujcTxM)\n\nAnita Mui plays the twin sisters Yao Mei-kwan and Yao Mei-wai, identical in appearance but opposite in character: Mei-kwan a poised, formidable fighter, Mei-wai eccentric and scatterbrained. Contemporary commentary credits her dual performance with driving much of the film.[5](https://www.hk01.com/%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1/708664/%E6%A2%85%E8%89%B7%E8%8A%B3-%E4%B9%9D%E4%B8%80%E7%A5%9E%E9%B5%B0%E4%BF%A0%E4%BE%B6-%E4%B8%80%E4%BA%BA%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E5%85%A9%E8%A7%92-%E6%A2%85%E5%A7%90%E6%9C%80%E8%A2%AB%E5%BF%BD%E7%95%A5%E7%9A%84%E7%B2%BE%E5%BD%A9%E6%BC%94%E5%87%BA)\n\n## Style and sources\n\nThe film's Chinese title invokes Jin Yong's novel, but the plot and character setup come from Tsukasa Hojo's manga *[City Hunter](https://www.edgepedia.org/city-hunter)*: Ching parallels the mercenary Ryo Saeba, and Siu-chuen and his sister Wai-heung recall the manga's Hideyuki and Kaori Makimura; Silver Fox is also a character from the manga.[4](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/1929247/feature/) The Hong Kong Film Archive describes the result as mixing eastern romance with western fantasy while deliberately blurring its time period.[1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html) The Toronto International Film Festival program described the opening as jumping between a medieval swordswoman attack and gun-toting, Armani-clad super-policemen devastated by a cloaked assassin.[8](https://www.noahcowanfilm.com/chinese-cinema/saviour-of-the-soul)\n\n**Visual design.** Each principal character wields a unique, imaginative weapon, and the art direction has a pronounced European flavor.[1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html) The cinematographer was Peter Pau, who later won an Academy Award, and the art director was Yee Chung-man; the score is by Anthony Lun.[5](https://www.hk01.com/%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1/708664/%E6%A2%85%E8%89%B7%E8%8A%B3-%E4%B9%9D%E4%B8%80%E7%A5%9E%E9%B5%B0%E4%BF%A0%E4%BE%B6-%E4%B8%80%E4%BA%BA%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E5%85%A9%E8%A7%92-%E6%A2%85%E5%A7%90%E6%9C%80%E8%A2%AB%E5%BF%BD%E7%95%A5%E7%9A%84%E7%B2%BE%E5%BD%A9%E6%BC%94%E5%87%BA) • [8](https://www.noahcowanfilm.com/chinese-cinema/saviour-of-the-soul) Action choreography was by Yuen Tak, who made the non-martial-artist cast look accomplished; the final duel between Andy Lau and Aaron Kwok is frequently singled out.[9](https://fareastfilms.com/review/saviour-of-the-soul/)\n\n## Production and reception\n\nThe film marked the debut of Teamwork Motion Pictures, the production company Andy Lau established in 1991 with David Lai, Yu Wai-kwok, and Chan Pui-wah; Teamwork went on to produce films including *A Moment of Romance* follow-ups such as *Endless Love* (1993) and *Ah Fook* titles like *Running Out of Time* era projects *Ah Kau* (2000).[2](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/documents/6.-Research-and-Publication/06-02-Filmmakers-Search/Chinese/Andy-LAU_c.pdf) Released in Hong Kong on 19 December 1991, it earned over HK$20 million at the box office and received multiple nominations at the 11th Hong Kong Film Awards and the 29th Golden Horse Awards, including Golden Horse nominations for Best Cinematography (Peter Pau) and Best Art Design (Yee Chung-man) and a Hong Kong Film Award nomination for Aaron Kwok as Best Supporting Actor.[3](https://movie.douban.com/subject/1301278/) • [5](https://www.hk01.com/%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1/708664/%E6%A2%85%E8%89%B7%E8%8A%B3-%E4%B9%9D%E4%B8%80%E7%A5%9E%E9%B5%B0%E4%BF%A0%E4%BE%B6-%E4%B8%80%E4%BA%BA%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E5%85%A9%E8%A7%92-%E6%A2%85%E5%A7%90%E6%9C%80%E8%A2%AB%E5%BF%BD%E7%95%A5%E7%9A%84%E7%B2%BE%E5%BD%A9%E6%BC%94%E5%87%BA) The Hong Kong Film Archive credits its bold art direction with winning the Best Art Direction award at the Hong Kong Film Awards.[1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html)\n\nThe film opened the early-1990s wave of contemporary-set swordplay films in Hong Kong cinema.[1](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html) A sequel, *Saviour of the Soul II* (九二神鵰之痴心情長劍), followed in 1992 with a largely similar creative team, but its reception and box office fell well short of the original.[5](https://www.hk01.com/%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1/708664/%E6%A2%85%E8%89%B7%E8%8A%B3-%E4%B9%9D%E4%B8%80%E7%A5%9E%E9%B5%B0%E4%BF%A0%E4%BE%B6-%E4%B8%80%E4%BA%BA%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E5%85%A9%E8%A7%92-%E6%A2%85%E5%A7%90%E6%9C%80%E8%A2%AB%E5%BF%BD%E7%95%A5%E7%9A%84%E7%B2%BE%E5%BD%A9%E6%BC%94%E5%87%BA) The film was released in Japan on 11 December 1993 under the title 神鳥伝説.[10](https://kungfutube.info/22956) On Douban it holds a rating of 6.4 from more than 10,600 users.[3](https://movie.douban.com/subject/1301278/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Saviour of the Soul, Hong Kong Film Archive](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/fantasy/pe-event-2026-fantasy-fs-film06.html)\n2. [香港影人小傳檢索：劉德華, Hong Kong Film Archive](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/documents/6.-Research-and-Publication/06-02-Filmmakers-Search/Chinese/Andy-LAU_c.pdf)\n3. [九一神雕侠侣, Douban](https://movie.douban.com/subject/1301278/)\n4. [九一神雕侠侣_幕后花絮, 1905电影网](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/1929247/feature/)\n5. [梅艷芳｜《九一神鵰俠侶》一人分飾兩角, HK01](https://www.hk01.com/%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1/708664/%E6%A2%85%E8%89%B7%E8%8A%B3-%E4%B9%9D%E4%B8%80%E7%A5%9E%E9%B5%B0%E4%BF%A0%E4%BE%B6-%E4%B8%80%E4%BA%BA%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E5%85%A9%E8%A7%92-%E6%A2%85%E5%A7%90%E6%9C%80%E8%A2%AB%E5%BF%BD%E7%95%A5%E7%9A%84%E7%B2%BE%E5%BD%A9%E6%BC%94%E5%87%BA)\n6. [Saviour of the Soul, Focus Group Holdings](https://www.focusgroup.cc/en/major_company/shows_projects_details/3/)\n7. [《91神鵰俠侶》粤语版 plot synopsis, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXzltujcTxM)\n8. [Saviour of the Soul, Toronto International Film Festival programme (Noah Cowan)](https://www.noahcowanfilm.com/chinese-cinema/saviour-of-the-soul)\n9. [Saviour Of The Soul (1991) Review, Far East Films](https://fareastfilms.com/review/saviour-of-the-soul/)\n10. [アンディ・ラウ 神鳥伝説／九一神鵰俠侶（1991）, KUNGFU TUBE](https://kungfutube.info/22956)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Science fiction and fantasy films (individual works) › Science fiction and fantasy films of the 1990s › Released 1990 to 1995*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/saviour-of-the-soul", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/saviour-of-the-soul.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Saviour of the Soul (九一神雕侠侣)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/saviour-of-the-soul. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Saviour of the Soul (九一神雕侠侣)](https://www.edgepedia.org/saviour-of-the-soul)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/saviour-of-the-soul](https://www.edgepedia.org/saviour-of-the-soul). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Saviour of the Soul (九一神雕侠侣)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/saviour-of-the-soul. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Saviour of the Soul, also released as Savior of the Soul, is a 1991 Hong Kong action fantasy film by Corey Yuen and David Lai, written by Wong Kar-wai, loosely adapted from the manga City Hunter, starring Andy Lau, Anita Mui, and Aaron Kwok, and the debut of Lau's Teamwork company." }