{ "id": "epn4p41wx6", "slug": "the-touch", "title": "The Touch", "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.action-adventure", "label": "Action and adventure films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure.martial-arts-films", "label": "Martial arts films", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure.martial-arts-films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure.martial-arts-films.yr-1986-2026", "label": "Released 1986 to 2026", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure.martial-arts-films.yr-1986-2026" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure", "label": "China · 2001 to 2020: Action and adventure films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure", "path": [ { "id": "geo.chn", "label": "China", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001", "label": "China · 2001 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.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.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure", "label": "Action and adventure films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure" } ] } ], "excerpt": "The Touch (天脉传奇, Tian Mai Chuanqi) is a 2002 English-language action-adventure film directed by Peter Pau, starring and produced by Michelle Yeoh, about acrobat siblings guarding a Buddhist relic; Hong Kong's rejected Oscar entry.", "snippet": "The Touch (天脉传奇, Tian Mai Chuanqi) is a 2002 English-language action-adventure film directed by Peter Pau, starring and produced by Michelle Yeoh, about acrobat siblings guarding a Buddhist relic; Hong Kong's rejected Oscar entry.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure.martial-arts-films.yr-1986-2026", "markdown": "# The Touch\n\n**The Touch** (天脉传奇, also rendered 天脉传奇, *Tian Mai Chuanqi*) is a 2002 English-language action-adventure film directed by Peter Pau and starring [Michelle Yeoh](https://www.edgepedia.org/michelle-yeoh), who also produced it through her company Mythical Films. The story follows a brother and sister, the last heirs of a family of acrobats, who must protect a Buddhist treasure their ancestors guarded for generations after a thief steals the medallion that unlocks its location.[1](https://www.miramax.com/movie/the-touch/) • [2](https://www.screendaily.com/fortissimo-to-handle-remaining-sales-on-paus-the-touch/409021.article)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Director | Peter Pau (鲍德熹), the Oscar-winning cinematographer; this was his English-language directorial debut[2](https://www.screendaily.com/fortissimo-to-handle-remaining-sales-on-paus-the-touch/409021.article) |\n| Star and producer | Michelle Yeoh, producing through Mythical Films under a deal with Han Entertainment[2](https://www.screendaily.com/fortissimo-to-handle-remaining-sales-on-paus-the-touch/409021.article) |\n| Writers | Julien Carbon, Laurent Courtiaud, and J.D. Zeik; story credited to Yeoh, Thomas Chung, and Pau[1](https://www.miramax.com/movie/the-touch/) • [3](https://www.screendaily.com/the-touch-tian-mai-chuanqi/4011609.article) |\n| Budget | $18.6 million per Screen Daily; a reported $20 million per the review and Chinese sources[4](https://www.screendaily.com/michelle-yeohs-touch-passed-untouched/409995.article) • [3](https://www.screendaily.com/the-touch-tian-mai-chuanqi/4011609.article) |\n| Runtime and rating | 103 minutes; PG-13 (Violence)[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10001039-touch) |\n| Release | Hong Kong gala premiere July 29, 2002; 200-print release in mainland China; Singapore release July 31, 2002[4](https://www.screendaily.com/michelle-yeohs-touch-passed-untouched/409995.article) • [6](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/54972/) |\n| Hong Kong box office | $1.5 million after opening on 38 screens on August 1, 2002[3](https://www.screendaily.com/the-touch-tian-mai-chuanqi/4011609.article) |\n| Music | Final film score by Basil Poledouris, who died in 2006[7](https://www.netflixmovies.com/the-touch-2002) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nYin Fei (Michelle Yeoh) and her brother Tong (Brandon Chang) come from a long line of acrobats whose ancestors once guarded a sacred Buddhist relic, the Sharira. Karl ([Richard Roxburgh](https://www.edgepedia.org/richard-roxburgh)), a greedy and unscrupulous collector, hires Eric ([Ben Chaplin](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-chaplin)), the adopted brother of Yin's family, to retrieve the Sharira; Eric instead arrives with the Heart of Dun Huang, a medallion that is the key to unlocking the relic's location. Yin and Tong must then embark on a perilous journey to protect the ancient treasure.[1](https://www.miramax.com/movie/the-touch/)\n\nThe Chinese synopsis adds background: in the thirteenth century, Tibetan craftsmen made the Heart of Dun Huang (敦煌之心), the object that opens the place where relics connected to Xuanzang were kept, and the monks who guarded it at Dunhuang gradually became an acrobatic family carrying on the mission.[8](https://www.bonafilm.cn/product/25.html) In the film's present, Eric steals the medallion for Karl, learns its secret, and steals it back from Karl before turning to Yin's family; Karl's men pursue them, and the contest over the treasure plays out at Dunhuang.[8](https://www.bonafilm.cn/product/25.html) The film closes with Yin and Eric discovering an ancient scroll that sets up a sequel.[3](https://www.screendaily.com/the-touch-tian-mai-chuanqi/4011609.article)\n\n## Production\n\nThe film was set up as a co-production between Yeoh's Mythical Films, Hong Kong's Han Entertainment, and China's Tianjan Studios, allowing it to qualify fully as a Chinese picture.[4](https://www.screendaily.com/michelle-yeohs-touch-passed-untouched/409995.article) It was filmed on location in Tibet, Dunhuang, and Qingdao.[6](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/54972/) Miramax bought the North American distribution rights before shooting began, a move Chinese sources attribute to the good working relationship formed on *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*.[6](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/54972/) In April 2002, Han Entertainment appointed Fortissimo Film Sales to handle outstanding territories; the trade paper Screen reported it was likely the biggest and most commercial film Fortissimo had handled.[2](https://www.screendaily.com/fortissimo-to-handle-remaining-sales-on-paus-the-touch/409021.article)\n\nPassed uncut in China. In July 2002 the film was passed uncut by China's national censor, the Film Bureau, clearing the way for a day-and-date release in mainland China and other parts of Asia. Han chief Thomas Chung said it would open on 200 prints in China after the Hong Kong gala premiere, with 40-print releases planned for Hong Kong, Singapore/Malaysia, and Thailand and roughly 100 screens in Taiwan. Chung set his hopes at Yuan 30 million at the Chinese box office, equivalent to roughly $3.6 million to $6 million.[4](https://www.screendaily.com/michelle-yeohs-touch-passed-untouched/409995.article) Chinese sources describe it as the first film released simultaneously in mainland China and other parts of Asia.[6](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/54972/)\n\n## Cast\n\nMichelle Yeoh plays Pak Yin Fay (Yin Fei), Ben Chaplin plays Eric, Richard Roxburgh plays Karl, and Brandon Chang plays Pak Yeuk Tong. Sihung Lung appears as the Monk of Dun Huang, with Margaret Wang as Lily, Dane Cook as Bob, Kenneth Tsang, Gabriel Harrison, and Winston Chao as Yin's father.[9](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-touch) Action choreography was by Philip Kwok Chun-Fung.[10](https://fareastfilms.com/review/the-touch/)\n\n## Reception\n\nThe film underperformed in Hong Kong despite a large publicity campaign, registering $1.5 million after opening on 38 screens on August 1, 2002, a fraction of its reported $20 million budget. Screen's review called it an \"Indiana Jones with Chinese characteristics\" whose high-tech visuals were undercut by the script, while noting a respectable though not record-breaking run in China and Southeast Asia.[3](https://www.screendaily.com/the-touch-tian-mai-chuanqi/4011609.article) On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a Tomatometer of 31% from one review, with more than 1,000 audience ratings.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10001039-touch) A later Far East Films review rated it 2.5 out of 5, praising Peter Pau's visuals and use of unusual landscapes while criticizing the storyline and the computer effects.[10](https://fareastfilms.com/review/the-touch/)\n\nOscar entry rejected. Hong Kong selected The Touch as its official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but the Academy rejected it because the film's dialogue is in English. Screen's reviewer saw the choice as reflecting the lack of noteworthy Hong Kong films in 2002.[3](https://www.screendaily.com/the-touch-tian-mai-chuanqi/4011609.article) An academic account likewise describes the film as Hong Kong's failed Oscar attempt, with the territory's next entry, *Infernal Affairs* (2002), taking up the question of identity the English-language film could not carry.[11](https://researchers.westernsydney.edu.au/files/94913700/uws_40413.pdf)\n\n## Legacy\n\nThe Touch was the first film from Michelle Yeoh's production company Mythical Films, which also released *Silver Hawk* (2004).[12](https://hkupress.hku.hk/image/catalog/pdf-preview/9789622090569.pdf) Its score by [Basil Poledouris](https://www.edgepedia.org/basil-poledouris) was his last for a film; he died in 2006.[7](https://www.netflixmovies.com/the-touch-2002) The film is available digitally in the United States, where it can be rented or bought on Amazon Video.[9](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-touch)\n\n## References\n\n1. [The Touch – Official Site, Miramax](https://www.miramax.com/movie/the-touch/)\n2. [Fortissimo to handle remaining sales on Pau's The Touch, Screen Daily (April 26, 2002)](https://www.screendaily.com/fortissimo-to-handle-remaining-sales-on-paus-the-touch/409021.article)\n3. [The Touch (Tian Mai Chuanqi) review, Screen Daily (December 17, 2002)](https://www.screendaily.com/the-touch-tian-mai-chuanqi/4011609.article)\n4. [Michelle Yeoh's Touch passed untouched, Screen Daily (July 25, 2002)](https://www.screendaily.com/michelle-yeohs-touch-passed-untouched/409995.article)\n5. [The Touch, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10001039-touch)\n6. [天脉传奇 The Touch (2002), 1905电影网](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/54972/)\n7. [The Touch (2002) on Netflix, NetflixMovies.com](https://www.netflixmovies.com/the-touch-2002)\n8. [天脉传奇, 博纳影业集团](https://www.bonafilm.cn/product/25.html)\n9. [The Touch streaming: where to watch movie online?, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-touch)\n10. [The Touch (2002) Review, Far East Films (June 15, 2015)](https://fareastfilms.com/review/the-touch/)\n11. [Hong Kong Cinema under \"One Country, Two Systems\", Western Sydney University research repository](https://researchers.westernsydney.edu.au/files/94913700/uws_40413.pdf)\n12. [Remade in Hollywood: The Global Chinese Presence in Transnational Cinemas, Hong Kong University Press](https://hkupress.hku.hk/image/catalog/pdf-preview/9789622090569.pdf)\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 › Action and adventure films (individual works) › Martial arts films › Released 1986 to 2026*\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/the-touch", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-touch.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": "\"The Touch\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-touch. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[The Touch](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-touch)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/the-touch](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-touch). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"The Touch\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-touch. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "The Touch is a 2002 English-language action-adventure film directed by Peter Pau, starring and produced by Michelle Yeoh, about acrobat siblings guarding a Buddhist relic; Hong Kong's rejected Oscar entry." }