Something about old hat stuff like love and beauty and courage.

We just stumbled on it, escaping the news. It’s in Chinese with subtitles. It’s billed as a martial arts movie. It takes place in the ninth century.

But actually there isn’t that much combat, and it’s far less silly than usual when it occurs. The plot is more intricate than usual too.

Battle in a bamboo forest. Cool.

What we didn’t expect that kept us riveted all the way to the end. Absolutely gorgeous cinematography. Gorgeous lead actors. (Well, my wife said he was gorgeous too.)

You decide.

And they were even good at the acting. This is no Hong Kong fightfest with whooshing feet, endless nonfatal blows, and overwrought, nonsensical dialogue. It’s a movie, and in the end it is moving. Give it a look.

Trust me. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

You can’t get much farther from the news. And the music is far away from everything.