NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: 88 Films Blu-ray (March 2025): 88 Films have transferred Eddie Ling-Ching Fong's An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "HD Transfer From the Original Negative". The film showcases a meticulous recreation of Tang Dynasty aesthetics through lush cinematography, opulent production design, and a deliberate use of light and shadow. The 1080P supports the film's exquisite production value eye-candy. There is a crispness producing depth, not much texture, but true and consistent colors. The film employs soft, diffused lighting for interior scenes, often using natural sources like lanterns or candles to cast warm, golden glows across the actors’ faces and surroundings. Close-ups dominate, emphasizing Ha’s expressive eyes and subtle shifts in emotion, a technique that draws viewers into Yu’s inner world. The Blu-ray transfer is housed on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate, clean and freshly recreates a Tang Dynasty world. All good. 

NOTE: We have added 56 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, 88 Films use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original Cantonese language. An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty has a carefully crafted soundscape that enhances the film’s Tang Dynasty setting, emotional depth, and thematic resonance. Comprising an evocative musical score by Jim Shum (Farewell China) - a fusion of traditional Chinese music and modern cinematic orchestration - ambient sound effects, and minimal but impactful dialogue - Patricia Ha’s voice is a standout, shifting from cool authority in scholarly scenes to raw passion in romantic ones. The audio serves as both a historical anchor and a poetic undercurrent to the narrative’s blend of eroticism, rebellion, and tragedy. The uncompressed audio transfer is effective and supportive of the film's moods and effects. 88 Films offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The 88 Films Blu-ray offers a commentary by David West (NEO magazine, and author of Chasing Dragons: An Introduction to the Martial Arts Film) a journalist with a background in covering Asian cinema and genre films. He gives and overview of the film’s place within the Shaw Brothers catalog, noting its status as one of the studio’s final productions before its decline in the mid-1980s, how it reflects the Tang Dynasty’s cultural legacy and the Hong Kong film industry’s Golden Age. There are details on director Eddie Ling-Ching Fong’s debut, his New Wave influences, and the challenges of balancing eroticism with artistic ambition under Shaw Brothers’ commercial framework. It's excellent and through. Also included is a 22-minute interview feature with actor Alex Man, who plays Tsui Po-hou, the wandering swordsman and Yu’s lover. Conducted by Fred Ambroisine, a noted interviewer and documentarian specializing in Asian cinema (known for his work with Spectrum Films and others), this piece provides a firsthand perspective from a key cast member who recalls his experience working on the film, including his collaboration with Patricia Ha and Monica Lam (memorable performance as Lu Chiao,) and his dynamic with director Fong. Lastly is a trailer and stills gallery.

Eddie Ling-Ching Fong's An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty was his feature debut. The film blends eroticism, feminist themes, and historical drama, set against the culturally rich backdrop of the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE,) often considered China’s most progressive era. It explores themes of independence, desire, and societal constraint through a visually striking yet narratively uneven lens. An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty is a flawed yet fascinating experiment - an erotic period drama (frequent female-on-female) that aspires to poetry and feminist commentary. Its strengths lie in Patricia Ha’s (Nomad, My Name Ain’t Suzie) commanding presence, its stunning visuals, and its bold exploration of a woman’s autonomy in a repressive society. For fans of Hong Kong cinema - Category III, Tang history, or unconventional heroines, it’s a compelling artifact of 1980s New Wave ambition, best appreciated for its aesthetic daring and thematic provocation over its storytelling coherence. The 88 Films Blu-ray brings the film to a highly pleasing a/v presentation with expert commentary and more. Curious fans of its historical authenticity with an erotic and poetic sensibility will not be disappointed. A pleasant surprise.

Gary Tooze