Painted Faces (1988)

This is a hidden GEM! Don't know why this movie isn't much more talked about internationally.

The movie gives us a glimpse of the life in a traditional Beijing Opera training school, that Jackie Chan in some interviews always have talked about he grew up in. This particular school and teacher have produced Hongkongs most well acclaimed action superstars and movie directors that have shaped the industry for over a decade.

It's a wonderful time piece and takes us into the 1960ties nostalgic Hongkong which was beautifully put on film. The atmosphere of that time was captured splendidly. You cant get more authentic chinese Hongkong culture than this!

The child actors are endearing and you can feel the brotherhood amongst them and the hardships they had to endure for fame and fortune, aswell as the growing pains of being kids.

Sammo Hung himself as the master teacher did a good job of portraying the sometimes harsh teacher but with his heart in the right place.

That same teacher that learnt to let go of the turtle which represented his students, that lead to the birth of Hongkong most well known action superstars!