The Romance of Book and Sword (1987) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language

1987 · 88 mins · Cantonese

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Directed by

Ann Hui

Starring

Ge Lili, Liu Jia, Guo Bichuan, Yu Da-Lu, Deng Jie, Zhang Duofu

Based on a folk‑legend novel, the story follows the 18th‑century Qianlong Emperor, secretly the son of a Han Chinese. His brother Chen Jialuo leads Red Flower Society, an anti‑Manchu secret group to persuade Qianlong to abandon Manchu rule and restore Han rule. The society is brutally crushed, showing how power can overwhelm ethics and humanity.