Don't forget the feminism!

Rating: 10/10 (13 January 2001)

I saw this film about three weeks ago, and I am surprised that none of the reviews that I have read here mention the strong feminist message throughout this film. As a lover of martial arts films in general, I have often lamented the inexplicable absence of women in this sport/art. CTHD, however, has proven that women can make the better martial artists.
CTHD not only has a strong female protagonist(s), but it also makes harsh statements against the Wudan's exclusion of women from their teachings. A strong man dies at the hands of an old women; many strong men die, are maimed or at least humbled by a young girl; women are the more elegant fighters - the very inclusion of such active female roles in this environment is unusual, yet alone the amount of film-time given to displaying their superior skills.
I have discussed this strong feminist strain with others, and the most common agonist in response has been mention of the 'tree sequence'. This is where Chow Yun Fat arrives to 'finish off' the fight with young Jen that Michelle Yeoh couldn't win. I believe that this apparent inconsistency was actually quite an overt criticism of the traditional rigidity of Wudan. By rejecting the inclusion of women in their teaching, they were also limiting themselves to fighters who were not necessarily the best available. Therefore Michelle Yeoh could not eventually defeat the young Jen only because she had not been permitted to read the Wudan book of teachings; instead it was left to the Wudan-trained Fat to retaliate.
As well, Jen's own exploding combination of confusion, self-loathing, arrogance, skill, intelligence and passion is a comment on this enforced exclusion and social imprisonment of women from a patriarchy that inherently has failed to recognise its most talented members. Her 'schizophrenia' as one reviewer has commented (no doubt someone who felt challenged by the complexity of forrest gump) is a reflection of this suffocating and inflexible environment that could have offered her so much if only she had been born a different gender.
And please, no more comments about how 'stupid' the flying is. If you honestly think this I am suprised that you were the type of person to see this film at all. Please read any of the well-written responses that other people have posted here in order to enlighten you.