One wag dubbed Only God Forgives ‘In the Mood for Blood’, which draws favourable comparisons between the richly coloured and textured look of Winding Refn’s film with that of Wong Kar Wai’s achievements in his collaborations with cinematographer Christopher Doyle.

Ashes of Time is Wong Kar Wai’s own subversive martial arts film. Set in ancient China, a number of stories revolve around Ouyang Feng (Leslie Cheung), an aging and broken-hearted swordsmen hiding out in the desert, from where he acts as a middle-man, contacting skilled bounty hunters to carry out murderous deeds. (Notes by Michael Hayden.)

Screening as part of Wanna Fight? (August 3rd – 31st), our season recognising the influences on director Nicolas Winding Refn and the roots of Only God Forigves.