(dir. Hou Hsiao-hsien 侯孝贤) One of Taiwan’s most celebrated directors does his version of a wuxia film, and it’s just as idiosyncratic as you would imagine. Static or very slow panning shots, minimal dialogue, and flat performances make this more of a meditation than an action movie. The cinematography and scenery is exquisite, though, and you can understand why Cannes rewarded Hou with a best director award. ★★★★☆

(dir. Tsui Hark 徐克) Cementing Jet Li’s popularity and Tsui Hark’s box-office power, Once Upon a Time was so successful it led to five sequels and a TV series, all about the late-Qing kungfu master Wong Fei-hung. It blends slapstick comedy and anti-imperialism in an entertaining package, and the ladder fight with the main villain is a particular highlight. ★★★★☆

(dir. Liang Xuan 梁旋 and Zhang Chun 张春) This charming film should be better known than it is. The influence of Studio Ghibli is clear, but that doesn’t detract from the beautiful animation and moving story. The version on Amazon and Netflix seems to be English-only, so to see it in the original Mandarin you’ll have to pick up the DVD or Blu-ray, which in the UK is released by mangauk.com.